LAKEWOOD | A campaign to raise income taxes to pay for public school upgrades is getting started in earnest.
Gov. John Hickenlooper helped launch the public campaign for Initiative 22 Thursday at Green Mountain High School in Lakewood.
It would increase income taxes nearly $1 billion a year to pay for school improvements including statewide full-day kindergarten.
Hickenlooper said it would be an investment in the economic development of Colorado, which he said would still remain a low tax state.
Supporters have already turned in signatures to petition the question onto ballots in November.
If voters approve the schools tax, they’ll also enact an education funding overhaul that includes new accountability tracking.
The schools measure would join a marijuana tax question about excise and sales taxes on the newly legal drug.
Why more funds into schools for teacher salaries, and computer stuff? My grandson received death threats in Aurora HS, went computer schooling year, now in different HS in Aurora, with much improved retention rate (not drop-outs) and where teachers – students answer annual polls, with majority not knowing anyone in administration they trust. And we had to go through a complete, all documents to prove residence, income, ages, as 2 years ago, although in same district as before. I was in military, computers and satellite communications in 1970s, and sent messages around the world , getting receipt confirmation within seconds from all recipients. With all the wonderful computers in schools administrators use, I would think they could track a student in same district, who had not moved. Just changed schools. After retirement, where I taught in military, I attended Pitkin and Aurora Community College, managed veteran records for VA – paid through school, and saw past elections raised taxes, with new conference tables bought, old typing desks sold to buy new ones. No way does that improve the education system for the students. Time wasted in fire drills, talking about zits, and other subjects. I discussed this with directors at the time, but hampered by federal, state requirements, where decisions should only be made locally. Don’t need Union in schools. Need teachers who can and will teach, even if some paperwork is not done. I will be voting NO until we quit wasting time on those who skip school often, and drop out about 9th,10th, grade after terrorizing fellow students and most teachers. School where grandson now attends, even teaches Geography and History of our country. WOW!