By Lisa Scott & Brooks Lindner
As the co-chairs of the Mill Levy Override (MLO) campaign in 2018, we wanted to remind the citizens how their affirmative vote supported the public school district.
With 61% support, our community passed the MLO which provided $1.7 million annually for the Archuleta School District (ASD) to help recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and staff, fund full-time school resource officers, fund full-day kindergarten, and provide the same services to Pagosa Peak Open School (PPOS).
The fiscal responsibility the school district has shown in spending these voter-authorized dollars is commendable and aligns with the intent. Thank you for being part of a community that values education and supports teachers, staff, and students.
The 2018 ballot initiative included an expiration of these funds in seven years. 2025 will be here before we know it, and the School Board, after consultation with an exploratory committee, has made the decision to place the MLO initiative on the November 2023 ballot asking the voters to extend the MLO and allow the school district to continue to collect these funds for the benefit of our public schools.
More information will be communicated to our citizens in the coming months to inform about the ballot and the rationale for support. Thank you for taking the time to understand this important initiative.
By Lisa Scott & Brooks Lindner are co-chairs of Citizens for ASD.