Hearing on Bruce challenge to D-11 postponed
A hearing scheduled for today that pits anti-tax crusader Douglas Bruce against Colorado Springs School District 11 has been pushed back until after the election. No date has been set.
Bruce has accused the school district and its seven school board members of violating the Colorado Fair Campaign Practices Actby using district money to mail a flier outlining the goals of a proposed tax increase that will be on the Nov. 4 ballot.
An administrative law judge with the state Office of Administrative Courts, a division of the Department of Personnel and Administration, was scheduled to hear the issue in Colorado Springs today. District lawyers asked for and were granted an extension beyond 30 days, specifically on or after Nov. 19.
"They they needed more time for investigation and preparation," said Elaine Naleski, D-11 spokeswoman.
Bruce, author of Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, or TABOR, said the district's request for postponement was "a stall and coverup."
"They wanted it after the election so the voters don't know they broke the law," he said Wednesday. "This is not complicated. They sent me a 40-page brief. All the judge has to do is look at the flier that was sent out at nonprofit rates."
The campaign act prohibits use of public money and public resources to advocate for or against issues or candidates.
The district has denied any wrongdoing, saying the mailer was meant to be informational.
The full-color flier was mailed to D-11 households in September. It was one of three marketing pieces to report test scores and district goals, and to inform the public that the board had voted to seek a tax increase through a school mill levy override, D-11 board president Tami Hasling has said.
The district is asking voters for permission to exceed its mill levy cap. The measure asks for $21.5million from a tax increase for various educational purposes and to retain and hire high-quality staff. The cost to homeowners would be $11.50 a month, or $138 a year, on a $200,000 home.
