School district lowers mill levy

Giving back to a supportive public

By Anika Pepper

Gunnison Watershed REJ1 School District business manager Stephanie Juneau presented the Mill Levy Certification that sets the property tax rate for the coming year at the December 4 Gunnison Watershed REJ1 School District board meeting, and it will be slightly reduced for 2019.

Juneau showed that the net assessed valuation abatements increased to $6,000,000, which in turn allowed a decrease in the mill levy. Essentially, with the increase in the value of houses in the Gunnison Valley, property owners will be paying more taxes on those properties, thus decreasing the school district’s need for financial support from the mill levy.

“When net increased we can decrease the mill levy we are charging our property owners,” said Juneau. The 2014 voter-approved mill levy override, originally authorized to collect $2,500,000 annually, will be reduced to 4.490 mills in 2019 to generate $2,450,000, down from 4.561 mills in 2018 to generate $2,461,108.

She said the decrease in the mill levy, while quite small, is indicative of a school district that listened to the county during election time. Juneau said members of Fund 26 Review Committee, which serves as an independent and objective party to review Fund 26 monies generated through that property tax, decided to reduce the mill levy because while Proposition 73 did not pass statewide, it had overwhelming support in Gunnison County.

Proposition 73 would have funded Colorado school districts approximately $120 million for special education, $20 million for English language proficiency programs, $10 million to gifted and talented programs, and an increased $10 million for preschool funding. Had Proposition 73 passed statewide, Gunnison Watershed REJ1 School District would have garnered millions of new dollars in revenues and been able to increase its per pupil funding by $1,560.

“We recognize that the people in Gunnison County did pass 73 so we want to honor that majority of people who support public education,” said Juneau. “Fund 26 decided collaboratively on bringing in $2.45 million. It wasn’t based on anything specific besides giving back to the taxpayers in a community that believes in public education.”