The Dolores School District Board of Education is asking voters to approve a $360,000 mill levy override at this November’s election to support the strategic goals of the school district.
The MLO will not increase taxes based on current assessment rates. The district’s proposal is $30,000 less than the district’s expiring mill levy override – but will still address the district’s most important needs. The Board of Education has focused the mill levy override on these priorities:
- Dolores School District’s average teacher salary is about $45,000 – much lower than three neighboring school districts that pay higher salaries.
- The district has worked to increase salaries and provide bonuses to teachers and staff members. However, this will remain an ongoing challenge.
- The district needs to update classroom materials and supplies, student books and technology to provide the best learning resources for students and teachers.
If approved, the 2024 MLO would sunset in 2032, allowing taxpayers to review how the district used the funds. Visit doloresschools.org/financial-transparency for more information about the district’s budget and fiscal accountability.
- The MLO will be used primarily to support students by ensuring the district can attract and retain great teachers and provide curriculum and classroom materials to support learning.
- MLO is $30,000 less per year than the current MLO that is expiring. This will actually reduce taxes based on current assessment rates.
- MLO includes a sunset so that the district can reassess future needs and voters can review the district’s fiscal accountability and spending of these tax dollars.
- Now is not the time to increase taxes as property assessments and taxes have increased for many residences and businesses in the district.
- The district just asked for and received bond approval from voters in 2023. Taxes will increase when the district issues these bonds. If the MLO expires, there will be less of a tax Impact for local residents and business owners.
- The district should address these needs within its existing budget and should be tightening its belt instead of asking taxpayers for more money.
Alesa Reed is interim superintendent for Dolores School District RE-4A.
