-
![cover]()
play_arrow
07_08_2024amheadlines Greta Kerkhoff
Boulder Valley School District funding
Boulder Valley Public school officials are concerned about district funding, as enrollment in the district declines.
The yearly decline of around 1.5% combined with Colorado’s new school funding law is expected to decrease the district’s budget significantly.
The new law, known as the New Public School Finance Formula, passed in May and places caps on property taxes, a major revenue for the district.
Although the Formula may provide additional state aid, the District is ultimately expecting to see an overall financial loss due to the district’s high fixed costs.
According to the Daily Camera, BVSD spends over $4,000 more per pupil than the state average, with some schools allocating over $22,000 per student.
Educators are worried the new formula could impact children from historically marginalized communities the most, as those schools rely almost fully on district funding.
BVSD officials have said that the funding issues could lead to “tough decisions,” including school closures.
Boulder staffers present scenarios for future of Area III Planning Reserve
Nearly 500 acres of mostly undeveloped land north of Boulder are being considered for housing.
The Area III Planning Reserve is northeast of U.S. 36 between Broadway and Jay Road. Boulder city staffers recently presented several potential scenarios for the pocket of land’s future – including the addition of thousands of housing units that could house up to nearly 15,000 people.
While there are parts of the Reserve that will likely be maintained as rural, the Daily Camera reports that the area’s geography makes it a good candidate for development, transportation, and recreation purposes.
In order to achieve these goals, the city would have to find ways to route city services and utilities there. It’s currently unclear if the city’s water and sewer systems would be capable of serving the Planning Reserve area, and how much developing the area would cost.
If the city does move forward with any of the presented scenarios, development could start around 2030, with a fully-built neighborhood completed by about 2050.
State assesses new power sources to help make Colorado 100% renewable
New state reports from the Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission make the case for geothermal and hydrogen power.
The reports say that both geothermal and hydrogen offer significant chances to build on energy provided by wind, solar, and batteries.
State officials aim to get Colorado running on 100% renewable energy by 2040.
Governor Jared Polis is especially interested in geothermal, according to The Denver Post.
The areas in Colorado with the highest reported potential for producing electricity through geothermal include the Upper Arkansas Valley, San Juan Basin, and a spot in the Denver Basin in the eastern part of the state.
When it comes to hydrogen, the governor acknowledged that it is viewed as a controversial fuel by some, since it often comes from fossil fuels. However, The Post reports that the state is looking into “green” hydrogen options produced in Golden.
CU Boulder chancellor outlines vision for the future
CU Boulder’s new chancellor started on the job early last week.
Justin Schwartz told The Daily Camera his top priorities include sustainability and student success. He added that he has long-term goals to advocate for degrees outside of STEM, and improve student graduation rates.
The previous Chancellor, Philip DiStefano, left late last year after 15 years in the role. He was the university’s longest-serving Chancellor.
Medical marijuana sale decline
Colorado’s medical marijuana sales have hit their lowest levels in at least a decade, down over 60% from April 2021.
Colorado Public Radio says this could be connected to the growth of the recreational cannabis industry, which has made cannabis more accessible and available to adults without the need for a permission slip from the state of Colorado.
More dispensaries in Colorado are operating only the recreational side, as it’s become the most viable option for owners to turn a profit.
According to CPR, current medical patients will likely stay in the medical market because the taxes are much lower than those levied on recreational marijuana.
Investors buy Boulder’s Walnut Business Center
Two out-of-state investors have teamed up to purchase the Walnut Business Center in Boulder for $28 million dollars.
Real estate investors ScanlanKemperBard Companies and Landrock LP plan to reinvigorate the commercial park.
According to the Daily Camera, the pair says they intend to transform the property into a modern space while working with tenants and employees.
Planned improvements include upgrades to roofing, parking lots, and mechanical systems.
The post Boulder Valley School District funding, State assesses new power sources, Staffers present scenarios for Area III Planning Reserve appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.