Thanks to Colorado Supreme Court, Tax-Funded School Finance Case Drags On
It wasn’t that many months ago the Colorado Supreme Court decided it has the right to decide our state’s school funding policy in the Lobato case. Faithful readers have seen me write about it on several occasions.
A couple months ago the plaintiffs — including some funded by school district tax dollars — filed a new official complaint, arguing
that Colorado public schools are so under-funded that students are denied an adequate education, in violation of that state constitutional mandate of a “thorough and uniform” system.
As reported in Ed News Colorado, Colorado’s Attorney General last Friday filed a response:
In standard legal language, the answer rejects most of the plaintiffs’ claims or terms them legal conclusions that don’t require an answer. The AG’s filing claims the plaintiffs lack standing to bring the case, seek an unconstitutional remedy and that their claims violate the separation of powers. It asks that the court rule in the state’s favor.
I happen to think the Attorney General is right. But anyway, thanks to the Colorado Supreme Court, Round 2 of the long, costly legal battle is now underway. It could be many years and many taxpayer dollars spent on both sides before the case is resolved. Buckle up for a potentially long and bumpy ride.