2 weeks Ago
Throughout my career as a U.S. congressman, I have always strived to prioritize two things: supporting our courageous military families and sound fiscal responsibility.
On the ballot, we the voters of Colorado Springs Academy School District 20 have an historic opportunity to do both. We cannot afford to miss this chance due to misinformation. District 20 has been approved for a $191 million grant from the Department of Defense to replace our 65-year-old Air Academy High School, which resides on federal property that’s within the boundaries of D-20.
This grant amount represents 80% of the $240 million rebuild cost. District 20 taxpayers would only need to provide $49 million, or 20 cents on the dollar. Passing Bond Issue 4B not only provides the necessary funding, but would simultaneously lower District 20 taxpayers’ property tax burdens.
It is hard to imagine why there would be opposition to this win-win opportunity, yet critics exist who are trying to dissuade voters through a misinformation campaign. The following are the facts concerning 4B: • Passing 4B will NOT result in a net tax increase to residents of D20. • District 20 taxpayers will see a reduction in their taxes whether 4B passes.
Voices saying anything else are simply false. If 4B fails, D-20 mils decrease 3.245.
If it passes, the decrease is 1.019 mils. For example, on a $400,000 home, 4B failing would result in an estimated $75 annual tax savings.
If 4B passes, the same taxpayer would see an estimated $24 annual reduction. In this example, there is roughly a $50 annual difference between 4B passing or failing, but either way, the taxpayer’s liability decreases. • District 20 gets a brand-new, state-of-the-art high school.
The new Air Academy High School and Career and Technical Education Center of Excellence is slated to offer academic programming in aviation, advanced manufacturing, cyber security, and hospitality management/culinary programs. This will help meet the needs of the workforces of both today and tomorrow. Additionally, the CTE center will be available to all D-20 high school students, with transportation to and from other schools provided.
• This will all be accomplished for just 20 cents on the dollar. There’s value, there’s great value, and then there’s this. The Department of Defense has visited the proposed building site and issued its approval of this project.
The necessary 80% funding match is appropriated, and the DOD is simply waiting on D-20 to provide the remaining 20%. • Bond Issue 4B also raises critical funds for other district school maintenance. Like all school districts, D-20 has a backlog of updates and projects that need addressing, all of which require cash.
Additional funding for the district will pay for ballistic window coverings (a sad, but new reality), HVAC improvements, asbestos abatement in older buildings, plus a slew of other worthy, waiting projects. My wife, Jeanie, and I have been residents of Academy School District 20 for 30 years and have five grown children who attended and graduated from D-20 schools. Also, having served many years on the House Armed Services Committee, I have always felt a deep sense of pride for and responsibility to those who have volunteered to wear the uniform.
Passing Bond Issue 4B is doing what is right for permanent residents and our robust military community families who call Colorado Springs home for whatever season of life the Department of Defense stations them here. There’s no conceivable reason for voting against 4B, and I encourage all residents of District 20 to join me in voting YES on 4B. U.
S. Rep. Doug Lamborn represents Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District and has long been ranked high among the most fiscally conservative members of Congress.
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