How Cherry Creek Schools are Funded

Recent property tax increases do not increase funding for schools.

How Cherry Creek Schools are Funded

Unfortunately, recent property tax increases won’t help.

School funding in Colorado is based on a complicated formula, as determined by the 1994 School Finance Act.

  • Calculations determine the per-pupil funding, based on the statewide base plus cost of living and size adjustments
  • The per pupil funding number is multiplied by the number of students in the district, and then additional funding is added for at-risk, online, and ASCENT students

School funding in Colorado is based on a complicated formula, as determined by the 1994 School Finance Act.

  • Calculations determine the per-pupil funding, based on the statewide base plus cost of living and size adjustments
  • The per pupil funding number is multiplied by the number of students in the district, and then additional funding is added for at-risk, online, and ASCENT students

Here’s how it works:

  • Schools are funded by a mix of State and Local sources.
  • Additional local revenue does not provide school districts with additional funds. Rather, we simply receive less money from the state.
  • More Local = Less State = CCSD funding stays the same

Here’s how it works:

  • Schools are funded by a mix of State and Local sources.
  • Additional local revenue does not provide school districts with additional funds. Rather, we simply receive less money from the state.
  • More Local = Less State = CCSD funding stays the same

Does an increase in property taxes fund capital construction needs or teacher pay?

No. The only way districts like Cherry Creek receive additional funding is through voter-approved measures such as Bond and Mill Levy Overrides.

Does an increase in property taxes fund capital construction needs or teacher pay?

No. The only way districts like Cherry Creek receive additional funding is through voter-approved measures such as Bond and Mill Levy Overrides.

Aren’t our schools “fully funded” now?

  • This is the first time lawmakers have funded the School Finance Act since 2009
  • The Budget Stabilization Factor was created in 2010, in response to fiscal challenges, and allowed the state to reduce the total amount of funding per district.
  • The state does plan to pay off the BS factor, but it will only bring funding back to 1989 levels
  • Over the past 14 years, because of the BS factor, the State has withheld $675M from CCSD, and $11 billion from school districts across the state.

Aren’t our schools “fully funded” now?

  • This is the first time lawmakers have funded the School Finance Act since 2009
  • The Budget Stabilization Factor was created in 2010, in response to fiscal challenges, and allowed the state to reduce the total amount of funding per district.
  • The state does plan to pay off the BS factor, but it will only bring funding back to 1989 levels
  • Over the past 14 years, because of the BS factor, the State has withheld $675M from CCSD, and $11 billion from school districts across the state.