Sources of Revenue

The revenue in school district general funds comes from several sources. State revenues now account for approximately 64 percent of the total general fund operating revenues of Colorado school districts. Approximately 33 percent of school districts’ general fund revenues comes from local sources. Local property taxes account for the major portion of the local revenues, with specific ownership taxes, delinquent taxes, penalties and interest and other local revenue comprising the remainder. The federal contribution to school finance is approximately 11 percent of school districts’ total operating revenues, but most of the federal money flows to school districts through the state.

State aid, allocated annually through the Public School Finance Act, is the primary source of state revenue for school districts. Most of the remaining state revenue is provided in the form of funding for categorical programs, including career and technical education, English language proficiency, special education, gifted and talented education and transportation.

Federal revenue is generally provided for specific purpose programs. Examples of these programs include vocational education, special education, compensation for the impact of federal facilities in the district and funding that provides assistance to districts for at-risk students. Use of federal revenues is strictly regulated by federal law.

Presented at the CASB Winter Legislative Conference, Feb. 23, 2017

State and School District Budgets in an Era of Change [Video | PDF]
Michael Griffith, school finance strategist, Education Commission of the States

A change in the White House, unstable state budgets, federal and state court decisions and ever-changing student needs will impact school district budgets around the country in the next year. Michael Griffith will walk us through how changes in the school funding landscape could impact school districts in Colorado. He will also explain some innovative ways that states and school districts have addressed school funding issues to better educate their students.

Rain or Shine? A Look at Colorado’s Cloudy Fiscal Future [Video | PDF]
Natalie Mullis, chief economist, Colorado General Assembly

Natalie Mullis brings plenty in the way of credentials to a conversation about the current state of Colorado’s finances. She has been a legislative economist since 1998, and she has been chief economist since 2009. But what sets Natalie apart is the simple and direct way she explains the issues and conditions that are important to understanding our state’s complicated fiscal situation. In this session, she will provide the latest update based on the December revenue forecast.