More pathways after graduation
Students need more opportunities in STEM, skilled trades, and other career-connected programs—but both Rifle and Coal Ridge high schools lack adequate space for these pathways.
Rifle · Silt · New Castle
Strong Students.Strong Schools.Strong Communities.
Two practical measures. One commitment to the students, educators, and families of Rifle, Silt, and New Castle.
The choice in front of us
Invest in the people and places that help our students thrive.
4A helps Garfield Re-2 attract and keep excellent teachers and staff. 4B renews the district’s existing bond tax rate to make long-planned school improvements for Rifle, Silt, and New Castle—without increasing that rate.
Why now?
Investing in people is producing results for students.
Garfield Re-2 has made recruiting and retaining excellent teachers and staff a priority—and that investment is helping create academic success. The Colorado Department of Education lists Garfield Re-2 as Accredited, and the Post Independent reported that the district achieved its highest performance rating ever.
Academic progress has been powered by people.
Approximately 80% of the General Fund supports the teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, custodians, cooks, and other staff who serve students every day.
The district is not carrying a top-heavy central office. Garfield Re-2 spends approximately 1.1% of its budget on administration, placing it among Colorado’s 30 lowest-spending districts for administration.
But current revenue can no longer sustain competitive staffing at this level. Because most spending is already tied to employees and administrative costs are lean, meaningful future cuts would increasingly mean eliminating positions or falling further behind neighboring districts. That is why Garfield Re-2 is asking voters for additional, locally controlled revenue.
80%of the General Fund supports staff
1.1%of the district budget is spent on administration
Among Colorado’s 30 lowest-spending districts for administration
The recruitment challenge
Starting Re-2 teachers are the lowest paid in Garfield County and among the lowest across the Western Slope.
Garfield Re-2 begins at $44,731—more than $9,000 below the highest starting salaries in this comparison. Closing that gap helps the district compete for excellent teachers and keep talented educators in our classrooms.
Aspen 1$54,000
Roaring Fork RE-1$54,000
Moffat County RE-1$51,000
Eagle County RE-50$50,500
Mesa County Valley 51$50,015
Plateau Valley 50$46,633
Garfield 16$45,000
Garfield Re-2$44,731
Starting base salary for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no credited experience (BA+0).
Beyond staffing
Other challenges facing the district
Garfield Re-2 must also prepare its schools for changing student needs, address safety concerns, and make room for programs families increasingly need.
Life-safety needs
Both Rifle High School and Coal Ridge High School have facility and site improvements needed to address life-safety concerns.
Coal Ridge capacity
Space constraints at Coal Ridge limit programming and require teachers to share classrooms, making it harder to expand courses and serve students effectively.
Early childhood demand
Families need additional early childhood classrooms along with a greater diversity of programming options for the district’s youngest learners.
4A
Mill Levy Override
Keep great educators in our classrooms.
Our students deserve consistent, talented teachers and staff. 4A provides locally controlled funding to make compensation more competitive with neighboring districts and the realities of living in our communities.
- Attract and retain qualified teachers and staff
- Improve compensation competitiveness
- Support stable, high-quality learning environments
4A is a modest tax increase. We believe voters deserve a clear, honest explanation of the cost and the benefit.
4B
Bond Measure
Modernize schools without raising the bond tax rate.
4B reauthorizes the district’s current bond tax rate so Garfield Re-2 can address priority facilities and learning spaces serving Rifle, Silt, and New Castle.
- Modern learning spaces for STEM and skilled trades
- Early childhood education in Silt
- Staff housing to strengthen recruitment and retention
4B will not increase the current bond tax rate. It continues an existing investment in our three communities.
What 4A would do
Raises would support all staff.
4A is not limited to teachers. The mill levy override would provide approximately 6% raises for employees serving schools throughout Rifle, Silt, and New Castle—from the classroom to the cafeteria, transportation, student support, and building operations.
Starting teacher salary with 4A
WITH MLOAspen 1$54,000
Roaring Fork RE-1$54,000
Moffat County RE-1$51,000
Eagle County RE-50$50,500
Mesa County Valley 51$50,015
Garfield Re-2$47,414
Plateau Valley 50$46,633
Garfield 16$45,000
4A improves Re-2’s position—but does not erase the gap. The proposed starting salary remains $6,586 below Roaring Fork’s current starting salary.
Examples of 4A’s impact
CurrentWith MLO
Cook
$16.64/hr $17.63/hrCustodian
$16.64/hr $17.63/hrBus Driver
$22.22/hr $23.55/hrSPED Para
$17.41/hr $18.45/hrExamples shown are hourly base-pay comparisons provided by Garfield Re-2.
What 4B delivers
Projects with a purpose.
Each investment responds to a real need identified in the schools and neighborhoods of Rifle, Silt, and New Castle.
NO NEW TAXRATE INCREASE01 · Rifle High School
STEM, Engineering & Safer Access
Modernized science, technology, engineering, and math spaces designed for hands-on instruction, collaboration, and the skills students need after graduation.
The project also includes a new access road intended to address traffic circulation and safety concerns at Rifle High School.
02 · Coal Ridge High School
CTE, Athletics & Performing Arts Addition
New career and technical education space, a right-sized weight room, and flexible space serving performing arts and wrestling programs.
03 · Silt
Early Childhood Center
A dedicated learning environment for Garfield Re-2’s youngest students, helping families access early education close to home.
04 · Rifle · Silt · New Castle
Staff Housing
Approximately 40–50 rental units built at locations throughout the district, primarily as one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The housing is intended to help employees establish themselves locally, with an emphasis on entry-level teachers, single employees, and single-parent educators.
Conceptual renderings are provided for illustration and may change as designs are finalized.
“These measures are a huge value to students, taxpayers, and families in Rifle, Silt, and New Castle.”
— Supporters of Garfield Re-2
Straight answers
Common questions.
What would this cost a homeowner if both measures are approved?
The estimated increase would be approximately $38.08 per year for every $100,000 of a home’s market value—about $3.17 per month. A $500,000 home would pay approximately $190 more per year.
Colorado taxes a percentage of a home’s market value rather than taxing the full value directly. These estimates are based on preliminary assessed valuations; actual impact depends on property classification, assessed value, and applicable state law.
Homeowners age 65 and older may qualify for Colorado’s Senior Property Tax Exemption. Contact the Garfield County Assessor to determine whether you qualify.
Why can’t the district provide staff raises from its existing budget?
Garfield Re-2 already directs approximately 80% of General Fund spending to employee salaries and benefits. Meaningful ongoing raises create an ongoing obligation and therefore require stable, recurring revenue.
Central administrative costs account for approximately 1.1% of district spending, placing Re-2 among the 30 lowest of Colorado’s 178 school districts in that category. 4A would provide dedicated, locally controlled revenue to help compensation better reflect neighboring districts and the local cost of living.
Would the Mill Levy Override revenue stay local?
Yes. MLO revenue is locally approved, locally collected, and controlled by Garfield Re-2’s locally elected Board of Education for the purposes identified in the ballot measure. Unlike state funding and federal grants, its level and permitted uses are not determined outside the district.
My property taxes just went up. Didn’t the school district get all of that additional money?
No. Higher property values or collections do not necessarily produce an equivalent increase in money available to Garfield Re-2. Colorado’s school-finance formula combines local property-tax revenue with state funding; generally, when the local share rises, the state share falls.
Tax bills can also change because of assessment rates, exemptions, valuations, and levies from other local governments. 4A is different because it is additional voter-approved revenue that stays with Garfield Re-2.
What projects are included in the Bond measure?
4B would fund projects focused on safety, career and technical education, early childhood education, and staff recruitment and retention:
- A new access road and traffic-flow improvements at Rifle High School.
- Rifle High School science, STEM, and learning-space renovations.
- Coal Ridge High School career-pathway, weight-room, and multipurpose space.
- A new Early Childhood Center serving approximately 150 children.
- Staff rental housing to support recruitment and retention.
Detailed designs and final scopes would proceed through public planning, procurement, and Board approval if voters approve the Bond.
Would the Bond increase the district’s current bond tax rate?
No. The Bond is structured as a reauthorization of the existing bond tax rate—not an increase. As debt from the bond approved in 2006 is paid off, 4B would use that retiring debt capacity to repay the new bonds. It continues the existing rate.
Can Bond money be used for salaries?
No. Bond proceeds are restricted to the capital purposes identified in the ballot measure and cannot be transferred to salaries or routine operating expenses. That is why voters are considering two measures: 4A for ongoing staffing needs and 4B for long-term capital investments.
Why include staff housing instead of using that money for higher salaries?
The two measures address different parts of the staffing challenge, and Bond money cannot legally fund ongoing salaries. 4A provides ongoing compensation revenue, while 4B can fund a long-term asset such as staff rental housing.
Housing costs and limited availability can make it difficult for employees to establish themselves in Rifle, Silt, or New Castle. Rental housing complements more competitive compensation with another recruitment and retention tool.
Would staff housing be free?
No. The proposal is for rental housing, not free housing. Specific rental rates, eligibility requirements, locations, and operating plans have not been finalized and would require future public planning and Board action.
Has Garfield Re-2 purchased a $1.5 million house for the superintendent?
No. Garfield Re-2 has not purchased a $1.5 million house for the superintendent, and the Bond does not include a superintendent residence. The proposal is for staff rental housing intended to help recruit and retain district employees.
How big would the Early Childhood Center be?
The final size has not been determined. Current planning anticipates a center capable of serving approximately 150 children. Detailed design, programming, and capacity would be finalized through public planning and Board approval.
Would the Early Childhood Center replace preschool classrooms in elementary schools?
No. The proposal would maintain preschool programming at district elementary schools. The new center would add early-childhood capacity and programming rather than eliminate school-based preschool options.
Would the Early Childhood Center have different hours?
Potentially. A dedicated center creates the opportunity to consider extended hours and additional services during school breaks for working families. Specific hours, calendars, and programming have not been finalized.
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