Education panel to appeal ruling on funding bill

DENVER ” The Colorado Board of Education says it will appeal a court ruling that tossed out a law that was expected to raise $1.7 billion for schools over the next 11 years.

A Denver district judge ruled last month the law was unconstitutional because it gives the state more tax revenue without the required voter approval.

The Board of Education said Friday it would appeal directly to the state Supreme Court, bypassing the Court of Appeals, to get a final ruling as quickly as possible.

Gov. Bill Ritter has already announced he will appeal.

The law freezes property tax rates in some school districts where they were expected to decline and funnels the extra money to education. It has raised $118 million in its first year.