Funding 101
Navigating the Budget
Education funding in Colorado is complicated. Here is an overview guide to help navigate the complexities of funding K-12 education in our state.
Our general operating budget is funded mostly from state and local tax revenue and a little from federal and other sources.
State Revenue
State and local revenue work off of the School Finance Act. Started in 1994, the formula determines how tax revenue is distributed equitably across the state, weighing characteristics and factors of each district to determine funding per pupil.
State revenue was intended to fill in where local funds came up short. In the 1980s, state revenue was only one-third of our budget. Currently, it is nearly two-thirds. At this ratio, any cuts or lack of increases from the State take a major toll on our school funding.
Local Property Taxes
We receive tax revenue from the properties within our district boundaries, which adds to the state School Finance Act. Compared to other school districts, the assessed value of the entire district, divided by the number of students in the district, is much lower due to lower overall home values and fewer businesses. This results in less revenue for our district and more funding we have to come up with through locally-approved overrides.
Read the Navigating the Budget to learn more about the district finances.