Local school leaders warn House Bill 24-1448 could cut millions from district budgets

School officials and county commissioners on March 5 discussed preliminary estimates showing sharp future cuts for local K‑12 budgets if Colorado adopts the funding changes in House Bill 24‑1448.

The concern was raised during San Miguel County's regular Board of County Commissioners meeting after Todd Bissell, identified in the meeting as Norwood’s superintendent, and John Pandolfo presented scenarios showing possible drops in “total program funding” under the proposed formula change.

Pandolfo said the district’s current five‑year averaging helps blunt declines in enrollment but that moving to a one‑year count and removing hold‑harmless protections would deepen cuts. “If we went to HB 24‑1448 … it would bring us down to $1.7 million below what we currently get,” Pandolfo said. He added that adding the mill levy override shortfall could push that number higher. Bissell told commissioners that a loss of just five students in a one‑year count could mean roughly $100,000 in reduced funding for a small district, jeopardizing two or three staff positions.

Commissioners asked for context and options. County staff said they had already briefed state legislators and planned community outreach. The board directed staff to draft a letter to the county’s state representatives — specifically Rep. Sukla and Sen. Cleve Simpson, who has been engaged on school funding matters — asking them to consider pausing aspects of the bill, retain multiyear averaging, and reconsider the locale factor that determines size adjustments for districts.

Speakers emphasized the difference between immediate effects and longer‑term risk. Pandolfo and Bissell said the coming year’s impact appeared modest for some local districts but warned that later years could be far worse if the legislature adopts the one‑year count and other proposed changes. Commissioners discussed drafting an advocacy letter the county could send and circulate to neighboring jurisdictions and school boards.

The presenters also pointed commissioners to adequacy studies recently prepared for the legislature, which, they said, simultaneously indicate that many districts are underfunded even while the bill could cut program funding for certain districts.

Next steps included county staff preparing a draft letter and sharing talking points that local board members could use for outreach to legislators. Commissioners indicated they would forward the county letter to neighboring towns and encourage municipal leaders to weigh in as they can.

The discussion was informational and resulted in direction to staff; no formal budget vote was taken.

Ending — The county expects to circulate the draft letter in the coming weeks and to coordinate outreach with local school districts and towns. Commissioners said they will monitor legislative movement on HB24‑1448 and return to the issue if new state calculations become available.