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Tuesday, August 8, 2006
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Sales tax for early childhood education?
The Denver City Council added the proposal for a increase in sales tax for early childhood education to the November ballot last night, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "The Denver City Council agreed Monday to put a proposed sales tax to fund early childhood education on the November ballot. The measure passed on a 10-1 vote, with Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz casting the sole dissenting vote. Members Marcia Johnson and Kathleen MacKenzie were absent. None of the 15 people who spoke out on the proposal expressed opposition, although Kim Ursetta of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association said teachers were concerned that private, as well as public, preschool programs could receive money under the plan. The program would collect $12 million a year by raising the sales tax by 0.12 of a percentage point to 7.72 percent, an extra 12 cents on every $100 purchase. A panel appointed by Mayor John Hickenlooper spent more than two years crafting the proposal that would give parents of 4-year-olds tuition for the preschool of their choice based on the parents' income and the quality of the provider. Providers also would get funds...
"Faatz said she had reservations because her constituents did not want to see taxes increase, and they feared some of the funds would go toward illegal immigrants. She said she also feared too much would be spent on administrative costs."
"denver 2006"
6:08:36 AM 
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$40 million for interbasin compact committees
The Colorado water roundtables are gearing up, according to the Rocky Mountain News. From the article, "Colorado has set aside $40 million in grants to help communities across the state analyze local water needs and study potential partnerships to ensure that everyone has enough of the scarce resource. The cash represents a major step for the state as it tries to lure warring urban and rural interests to the negotiating table to stave off looming water shortages. The money is flowing from the state's severance tax fund and will be doled out over the next four years. How to spend the cash is up to a series of regional roundtable groups that represent the state's eight major river basins and metro Denver. More than 300 people are participating in the roundtables. Russell George, executive director of Colorado's Department of Natural Resources, is spearheading that effort. George said he hopes the money will help Colorado examine a broad range of options, from environmental water needs to conservation projects to farm needs."
"colorado water"
5:44:51 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/14/09; 8:26:54 PM.
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