Tuesday, February 04, 2003
A bill meant to prevent financial catastrophes such as the one crippling St. Vrain Valley School District passed the House on Monday morning.
HB 1032, sponsored by Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, requires district officials to notify their school boards when they apply for short-term, interest-free loans from the state.
At St. Vrain, administrators used the loans to keep their financially askew district in the black, while elected school board members stayed in the dark. Board members only became aware of the problem once they were were $13 million in debt. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Tuesday, February 4, 2003
Friday, January 31, 2003
Bills target school-board finances
St. Vrain, Elizabeth problems inspire package to protect districts, taxpayers
By Monte Whaley
Denver Post Education Writer
Friday, January 31, 2003 - A package of bills aimed at protecting school districts from financial disaster and taxpayers from "fiscal moonshine" was introduced Thursday by lawmakers.
All five measures were inspired by revelations that mismanagement plunged both the St. Vrain Valley School District in Longmont and the Elizabeth School District southeast of Denver into multimillion-dollar deficits.
The proposals range from one that would shore up accounting procedures in school districts to one that would allow citizens to block bond issues if they felt they were misled by school officials.
Problems in the St. Vrain and Elizabeth districts were "a wake- up call," state Treasurer Mike Coffman said Thursday while being flanked by bill sponsors.
"We must do all we can to see that it never happens again," Coffman said. "Colorado's students and taxpayers deserve nothing less."
Bill sponsors and state school officials said they will work hard to get the bills passed this session.
Many of the bills were recommendations made by a special group formed last month to study the fiscal problems in the two districts.
Mostly, the proposals will help ensure school districts get timely and easy-to-understand financial information before it's too late to fix problems, Coffman said.
The St. Vrain and Elizabeth boards said the deficits caught them by surprise.
One proposal - Senate Bill 149 - includes several "common- sense" measures such as requiring school districts to adhere to generally accepted accounting principles and prohibiting spending over available revenue, Coffman said.
The measure also would require state-mandated reserves to be fully funded and for school boards to review their district's financial situation at least quarterly. It is co-sponsored by Sen. Ken Arnold, R-Westminster, and Rep. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial.
Arnold and Rep. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, are sponsoring a proposal to modify the state's Interest Free Loan Program for school districts. The lawmakers want the state to pass its interest costs on to borrowing districts.
"The program costs the state several million dollars per year in interest costs that it can currently ill afford," Mitchell said. "And school districts would still benefit from the state's ability to borrow at the lowest rates available."
The initiative would require school boards to formally vote on all loan requests.
A related proposal - SB 158 - would help districts that find themselves unable to repay loans by the annual June 25 deadline. It would allow school districts to engage in sale-leaseback transactions to satisfy restrictions on carrying debt from year to year, lawmakers said.
The legislation "will provide school districts the flexibility they need to comply with TABOR (Taxpayer's Bill of Rights) while meeting their financial obligations," said Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder. He and Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, are co-sponsoring SB 158.
SB 139 would let citizens fight bond issues when they felt that a school board, city, county or special district withheld key information before a bond election.
Top St. Vrain officials knew of the district's widening deficit before last fall's bond election but did not tell voters, Coffman said.
By Monte Whaley
Denver Post Education Writer
Friday, January 31, 2003 - A package of bills aimed at protecting school districts from financial disaster and taxpayers from "fiscal moonshine" was introduced Thursday by lawmakers.
All five measures were inspired by revelations that mismanagement plunged both the St. Vrain Valley School District in Longmont and the Elizabeth School District southeast of Denver into multimillion-dollar deficits.
The proposals range from one that would shore up accounting procedures in school districts to one that would allow citizens to block bond issues if they felt they were misled by school officials.
Problems in the St. Vrain and Elizabeth districts were "a wake- up call," state Treasurer Mike Coffman said Thursday while being flanked by bill sponsors.
"We must do all we can to see that it never happens again," Coffman said. "Colorado's students and taxpayers deserve nothing less."
Bill sponsors and state school officials said they will work hard to get the bills passed this session.
Many of the bills were recommendations made by a special group formed last month to study the fiscal problems in the two districts.
Mostly, the proposals will help ensure school districts get timely and easy-to-understand financial information before it's too late to fix problems, Coffman said.
The St. Vrain and Elizabeth boards said the deficits caught them by surprise.
One proposal - Senate Bill 149 - includes several "common- sense" measures such as requiring school districts to adhere to generally accepted accounting principles and prohibiting spending over available revenue, Coffman said.
The measure also would require state-mandated reserves to be fully funded and for school boards to review their district's financial situation at least quarterly. It is co-sponsored by Sen. Ken Arnold, R-Westminster, and Rep. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial.
Arnold and Rep. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, are sponsoring a proposal to modify the state's Interest Free Loan Program for school districts. The lawmakers want the state to pass its interest costs on to borrowing districts.
"The program costs the state several million dollars per year in interest costs that it can currently ill afford," Mitchell said. "And school districts would still benefit from the state's ability to borrow at the lowest rates available."
The initiative would require school boards to formally vote on all loan requests.
A related proposal - SB 158 - would help districts that find themselves unable to repay loans by the annual June 25 deadline. It would allow school districts to engage in sale-leaseback transactions to satisfy restrictions on carrying debt from year to year, lawmakers said.
The legislation "will provide school districts the flexibility they need to comply with TABOR (Taxpayer's Bill of Rights) while meeting their financial obligations," said Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder. He and Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, are co-sponsoring SB 158.
SB 139 would let citizens fight bond issues when they felt that a school board, city, county or special district withheld key information before a bond election.
Top St. Vrain officials knew of the district's widening deficit before last fall's bond election but did not tell voters, Coffman said.
Thursday, January 9, 2003
150 bills introduced on opening day
Proposed legislation deals with abortion, lies, funeral homes
By John J. Sanko, Rocky Mountain News
January 9, 2003
State lawmakers proved Wednesday they've got more than money problems and drought on their minds as they battle to shape up Colorado laws and life this year.
On the opening day of the 2003 session, more than 150 bills were introduced in the Senate and the House - measures on such issues as guns, funeral homes, job protection for firefighters and restrictions on jobs for former legislators.
There's even a bill aimed at stopping political candidates and others from voicing bald-faced lies during a campaign.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m., when Senate President John Andrews, R-Centennial, gave committee assignments to the last of 62 bills to cross his desk, the staff members and few lawmakers still in the chambers applauded.
In the House, Speaker Lola Spradley, R-Beulah, worked even longer. She assigned the last of 89 bills just 15 minutes later.
One of the bills Andrews assigned for a committee hearing was his own - SB 36 - requiring that high school students successfully complete a course on civil government of the United States and Colorado in order to graduate.
Andrews fought a losing battle last year for legislation to force the teaching of patriotism and to require students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The state already requires schools to teach history, culture and civil government. He wants to make sure students actually know something about civil government.
"It does not say it's a graduation requirement, so it's a toothless requirement in the law right now," Andrews said. "We're putting some teeth in it with my law."
Sen. Mark Hillman, R-Burlington, introduced SB 14 which makes it easier to prosecute people who make, publish, broadcast, or circulate false statements about a candidate or issue.
It's similar to a law he introduced a year ago that won support in the Senate but died in the House State Affairs Committee.
"Under current law, in order to show someone is guilty of lying in a campaign, you have to show they set out with the intent to lie," Hillman said.
"Under this change, you would simply have to show someone made absolutely no attempt to discern what the truth is. I believe this would be much more effective than trying to clean up campaigns by getting money out of them."
Among the other first-day bills were:
• SB 44, by Sen. Bob Hagedorn, D-Aurora, barring lawmakers from working as paid lobbyists for the first year after they leave the legislature.
• SB 40, by Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Golden, providing job protection for any public employees who take a leave of absence from their regular job to fight designated wildland fires.
• HB 1064, by Rep. Debbie Stafford, R-Aurora, requiring funeral establishments to register with the state and to comply with the "Mortuary Science Code."
• HB 1022, by Rep. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, requiring abortion clinics to be licensed by the state health department and directing the state health board to enact rules governing abortion clinics. The bill by Schultheis, an abortion opponent, outlines many of the requirements to be addressed in the rules.
• SB 24, by Sen. Ken Chlouber, R-Leadville, setting up a statewide requirement for sheriffs to issue conceal-carry permits for Colorado residents, 21 and older, who meet certain qualifications.
• SB 28, by Sen. Doug Linkhart, D-Denver, adding sexual orientation and gender variance to anti-discrimination laws for employers.
• SB 1, by Sen. Bruce Cairns, R-Aurora, providing a property-tax credit for donors to organizations that provide assistance for students to attend independent or parochial schools.
• HB 1044, by Rep. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, making it easier to go after motorists who avoid paying tolls, including denial of drivers license renewals for those with default judgments for toll evasion.
• HB 1037, by Rep. Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, expanding the list of those who must immediately report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to workers in child-care facilities and child-placement agencies.
• HB 1032, by Rep. John Pommer, D-Boulder, requiring school boards to approve a district's application to participate in the interest-free loan program overseen by the state treasurer. The bill stems from problems in the St. Vrain Valley School District.
By John J. Sanko, Rocky Mountain News
January 9, 2003
State lawmakers proved Wednesday they've got more than money problems and drought on their minds as they battle to shape up Colorado laws and life this year.
On the opening day of the 2003 session, more than 150 bills were introduced in the Senate and the House - measures on such issues as guns, funeral homes, job protection for firefighters and restrictions on jobs for former legislators.
There's even a bill aimed at stopping political candidates and others from voicing bald-faced lies during a campaign.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m., when Senate President John Andrews, R-Centennial, gave committee assignments to the last of 62 bills to cross his desk, the staff members and few lawmakers still in the chambers applauded.
In the House, Speaker Lola Spradley, R-Beulah, worked even longer. She assigned the last of 89 bills just 15 minutes later.
One of the bills Andrews assigned for a committee hearing was his own - SB 36 - requiring that high school students successfully complete a course on civil government of the United States and Colorado in order to graduate.
Andrews fought a losing battle last year for legislation to force the teaching of patriotism and to require students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The state already requires schools to teach history, culture and civil government. He wants to make sure students actually know something about civil government.
"It does not say it's a graduation requirement, so it's a toothless requirement in the law right now," Andrews said. "We're putting some teeth in it with my law."
Sen. Mark Hillman, R-Burlington, introduced SB 14 which makes it easier to prosecute people who make, publish, broadcast, or circulate false statements about a candidate or issue.
It's similar to a law he introduced a year ago that won support in the Senate but died in the House State Affairs Committee.
"Under current law, in order to show someone is guilty of lying in a campaign, you have to show they set out with the intent to lie," Hillman said.
"Under this change, you would simply have to show someone made absolutely no attempt to discern what the truth is. I believe this would be much more effective than trying to clean up campaigns by getting money out of them."
Among the other first-day bills were:
• SB 44, by Sen. Bob Hagedorn, D-Aurora, barring lawmakers from working as paid lobbyists for the first year after they leave the legislature.
• SB 40, by Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Golden, providing job protection for any public employees who take a leave of absence from their regular job to fight designated wildland fires.
• HB 1064, by Rep. Debbie Stafford, R-Aurora, requiring funeral establishments to register with the state and to comply with the "Mortuary Science Code."
• HB 1022, by Rep. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, requiring abortion clinics to be licensed by the state health department and directing the state health board to enact rules governing abortion clinics. The bill by Schultheis, an abortion opponent, outlines many of the requirements to be addressed in the rules.
• SB 24, by Sen. Ken Chlouber, R-Leadville, setting up a statewide requirement for sheriffs to issue conceal-carry permits for Colorado residents, 21 and older, who meet certain qualifications.
• SB 28, by Sen. Doug Linkhart, D-Denver, adding sexual orientation and gender variance to anti-discrimination laws for employers.
• SB 1, by Sen. Bruce Cairns, R-Aurora, providing a property-tax credit for donors to organizations that provide assistance for students to attend independent or parochial schools.
• HB 1044, by Rep. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, making it easier to go after motorists who avoid paying tolls, including denial of drivers license renewals for those with default judgments for toll evasion.
• HB 1037, by Rep. Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, expanding the list of those who must immediately report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to workers in child-care facilities and child-placement agencies.
• HB 1032, by Rep. John Pommer, D-Boulder, requiring school boards to approve a district's application to participate in the interest-free loan program overseen by the state treasurer. The bill stems from problems in the St. Vrain Valley School District.
Thursday, November 7, 2002
Republicans cheered by gains in the Statehouse
By John J. Sanko, Rocky Mountain News
November 7, 2002
Republicans in the Colorado General Assembly had plenty to cheer about Wednesday.
They lost one seat in the House and picked up one in the Senate. It might not appear much to cheer about, but that little shift made a dramatic change since it gave Republicans control of both legislative chambers under Republican Gov. Bill Owens. The GOP will hold an 18-17 advantage in the Senate going into the 2003 session - the same margin of control that Democrats held for the past two years.
In the House, Republicans will hold a 37-28 edge, one less than what they had going into the election. At one time Tuesday night, it looked as thought they might lose two seats.
"We have 37 but it looks as though there may be some recounts," said House Majority Leader Lola Spradley, R-Beulah. "There were some very close races out there."
There were no known automatic recounts - triggered by a formula based on margin of victory - but a few contests, including one extremely close House battle in Colorado Springs, was so close that Republicans held out hope provisional ballots might increase their numbers.
In the Senate, which drew the focus of both parties, Republicans made their big gain when Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, grabbed a former Democratic seat held by Senate President Stan Matsunaka, D-Loveland.
The GOP knew they had the win when El Paso County Commissioner Ed Jones, a Republican, kept control of a Colorado Springs seat.
Two races including parts of Jefferson County went down to the wire - so close they couldn't be called Tuesday night - before ending up narrowly in Democratic hands.- Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Golden, a former Jefferson County clerk and recorder, pulled out a close victory over Gilpin County Commissioner Web Sill in District 16.
And in District 20, a seat held by outgoing Senate President pro tem Ed Perlmutter, former Rep. Maryanne "Moe" Keller, D-Wheat Ridge, eked out a slim win over Deputy District Attorney Steve Jensen.
With all regular votes tabulated, Keller held a 176-vote advantage.
In the battle for control of the 65-member House, Republicans grabbed 37 seats but still were watching five races, including four won by Democrats, where the margin of difference was extremely thin.
The closest race was in House District 18 in Colorado Springs, where Democrat Michael Merrifield, a retired teacher, defeated Republican Dan Stuart by 75 votes. Republicans were hoping uncounted provisional ballots might change the results.
Other races with narrow margins included House District 11 in Boulder County, where Democrat Jack Pommer defeated Republican Leona Stoecker by 580 votes; House District 29 in Arvada, where Republican Bob Briggs beat Democrat Debbie Benefield by 367 votes; House District 30, where Rep. Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, held a 229-vote lead over Republican David Dunnell; and House District 56, where Rep. Carl Miller, D-Leadville, had a 326-vote advantage over Heather Christine Lemon. Angie Paccione beat Republican Kirk Brush in House District 53 in Fort Collins.
November 7, 2002
Republicans in the Colorado General Assembly had plenty to cheer about Wednesday.
They lost one seat in the House and picked up one in the Senate. It might not appear much to cheer about, but that little shift made a dramatic change since it gave Republicans control of both legislative chambers under Republican Gov. Bill Owens. The GOP will hold an 18-17 advantage in the Senate going into the 2003 session - the same margin of control that Democrats held for the past two years.
In the House, Republicans will hold a 37-28 edge, one less than what they had going into the election. At one time Tuesday night, it looked as thought they might lose two seats.
"We have 37 but it looks as though there may be some recounts," said House Majority Leader Lola Spradley, R-Beulah. "There were some very close races out there."
There were no known automatic recounts - triggered by a formula based on margin of victory - but a few contests, including one extremely close House battle in Colorado Springs, was so close that Republicans held out hope provisional ballots might increase their numbers.
In the Senate, which drew the focus of both parties, Republicans made their big gain when Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, grabbed a former Democratic seat held by Senate President Stan Matsunaka, D-Loveland.
The GOP knew they had the win when El Paso County Commissioner Ed Jones, a Republican, kept control of a Colorado Springs seat.
Two races including parts of Jefferson County went down to the wire - so close they couldn't be called Tuesday night - before ending up narrowly in Democratic hands.- Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Golden, a former Jefferson County clerk and recorder, pulled out a close victory over Gilpin County Commissioner Web Sill in District 16.
And in District 20, a seat held by outgoing Senate President pro tem Ed Perlmutter, former Rep. Maryanne "Moe" Keller, D-Wheat Ridge, eked out a slim win over Deputy District Attorney Steve Jensen.
With all regular votes tabulated, Keller held a 176-vote advantage.
In the battle for control of the 65-member House, Republicans grabbed 37 seats but still were watching five races, including four won by Democrats, where the margin of difference was extremely thin.
The closest race was in House District 18 in Colorado Springs, where Democrat Michael Merrifield, a retired teacher, defeated Republican Dan Stuart by 75 votes. Republicans were hoping uncounted provisional ballots might change the results.
Other races with narrow margins included House District 11 in Boulder County, where Democrat Jack Pommer defeated Republican Leona Stoecker by 580 votes; House District 29 in Arvada, where Republican Bob Briggs beat Democrat Debbie Benefield by 367 votes; House District 30, where Rep. Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, held a 229-vote lead over Republican David Dunnell; and House District 56, where Rep. Carl Miller, D-Leadville, had a 326-vote advantage over Heather Christine Lemon. Angie Paccione beat Republican Kirk Brush in House District 53 in Fort Collins.
Republicans cheered by gains in the Statehouse
By John J. Sanko, Rocky Mountain News
November 7, 2002
Republicans in the Colorado General Assembly had plenty to cheer about Wednesday.
They lost one seat in the House and picked up one in the Senate. It might not appear much to cheer about, but that little shift made a dramatic change since it gave Republicans control of both legislative chambers under Republican Gov. Bill Owens. The GOP will hold an 18-17 advantage in the Senate going into the 2003 session - the same margin of control that Democrats held for the past two years.
In the House, Republicans will hold a 37-28 edge, one less than what they had going into the election. At one time Tuesday night, it looked as thought they might lose two seats.
"We have 37 but it looks as though there may be some recounts," said House Majority Leader Lola Spradley, R-Beulah. "There were some very close races out there."
There were no known automatic recounts - triggered by a formula based on margin of victory - but a few contests, including one extremely close House battle in Colorado Springs, was so close that Republicans held out hope provisional ballots might increase their numbers.
In the Senate, which drew the focus of both parties, Republicans made their big gain when Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, grabbed a former Democratic seat held by Senate President Stan Matsunaka, D-Loveland.
The GOP knew they had the win when El Paso County Commissioner Ed Jones, a Republican, kept control of a Colorado Springs seat.
Two races including parts of Jefferson County went down to the wire - so close they couldn't be called Tuesday night - before ending up narrowly in Democratic hands.- Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Golden, a former Jefferson County clerk and recorder, pulled out a close victory over Gilpin County Commissioner Web Sill in District 16.
And in District 20, a seat held by outgoing Senate President pro tem Ed Perlmutter, former Rep. Maryanne "Moe" Keller, D-Wheat Ridge, eked out a slim win over Deputy District Attorney Steve Jensen.
With all regular votes tabulated, Keller held a 176-vote advantage.
In the battle for control of the 65-member House, Republicans grabbed 37 seats but still were watching five races, including four won by Democrats, where the margin of difference was extremely thin.
The closest race was in House District 18 in Colorado Springs, where Democrat Michael Merrifield, a retired teacher, defeated Republican Dan Stuart by 75 votes. Republicans were hoping uncounted provisional ballots might change the results.
Other races with narrow margins included House District 11 in Boulder County, where Democrat Jack Pommer defeated Republican Leona Stoecker by 580 votes; House District 29 in Arvada, where Republican Bob Briggs beat Democrat Debbie Benefield by 367 votes; House District 30, where Rep. Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, held a 229-vote lead over Republican David Dunnell; and House District 56, where Rep. Carl Miller, D-Leadville, had a 326-vote advantage over Heather Christine Lemon. Angie Paccione beat Republican Kirk Brush in House District 53 in Fort Collins.
November 7, 2002
Republicans in the Colorado General Assembly had plenty to cheer about Wednesday.
They lost one seat in the House and picked up one in the Senate. It might not appear much to cheer about, but that little shift made a dramatic change since it gave Republicans control of both legislative chambers under Republican Gov. Bill Owens. The GOP will hold an 18-17 advantage in the Senate going into the 2003 session - the same margin of control that Democrats held for the past two years.
In the House, Republicans will hold a 37-28 edge, one less than what they had going into the election. At one time Tuesday night, it looked as thought they might lose two seats.
"We have 37 but it looks as though there may be some recounts," said House Majority Leader Lola Spradley, R-Beulah. "There were some very close races out there."
There were no known automatic recounts - triggered by a formula based on margin of victory - but a few contests, including one extremely close House battle in Colorado Springs, was so close that Republicans held out hope provisional ballots might increase their numbers.
In the Senate, which drew the focus of both parties, Republicans made their big gain when Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, grabbed a former Democratic seat held by Senate President Stan Matsunaka, D-Loveland.
The GOP knew they had the win when El Paso County Commissioner Ed Jones, a Republican, kept control of a Colorado Springs seat.
Two races including parts of Jefferson County went down to the wire - so close they couldn't be called Tuesday night - before ending up narrowly in Democratic hands.- Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Golden, a former Jefferson County clerk and recorder, pulled out a close victory over Gilpin County Commissioner Web Sill in District 16.
And in District 20, a seat held by outgoing Senate President pro tem Ed Perlmutter, former Rep. Maryanne "Moe" Keller, D-Wheat Ridge, eked out a slim win over Deputy District Attorney Steve Jensen.
With all regular votes tabulated, Keller held a 176-vote advantage.
In the battle for control of the 65-member House, Republicans grabbed 37 seats but still were watching five races, including four won by Democrats, where the margin of difference was extremely thin.
The closest race was in House District 18 in Colorado Springs, where Democrat Michael Merrifield, a retired teacher, defeated Republican Dan Stuart by 75 votes. Republicans were hoping uncounted provisional ballots might change the results.
Other races with narrow margins included House District 11 in Boulder County, where Democrat Jack Pommer defeated Republican Leona Stoecker by 580 votes; House District 29 in Arvada, where Republican Bob Briggs beat Democrat Debbie Benefield by 367 votes; House District 30, where Rep. Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, held a 229-vote lead over Republican David Dunnell; and House District 56, where Rep. Carl Miller, D-Leadville, had a 326-vote advantage over Heather Christine Lemon. Angie Paccione beat Republican Kirk Brush in House District 53 in Fort Collins.
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