Twenty parents and teachers attended a "critical budget" meeting Tuesday to discuss the mill levy override proposal for Dolores Schools.

Voters will be asked this fall to continue the mill which sunsets in 2016. It was approved in 2008 and generates $390,000 per year, or seven percent of the school's operating budget.

Superintendent Scott Cooper emphasized that approving the continuation of the mill levy will not increase taxes, rather it keeps them the same.

The money is earmarked for teacher salaries ($150,000), school maintenance ($90,000), supplies ($89,000) technology ($40,000), and library needs ($21,000).

The mill is derived from property tax bills. Homes with a taxable value of $100,000 pay $4.68 per month towards the fund.

"We funded what we said we would, reducing class sizes, keeping qualified teachers, and improving technology," Cooper said. "We're asking for another eight years at which point we will again show what we accomplished."

The spaghetti dinner meeting was a brainstorming session for what the money should be spent on.

Academics flow through computers nowadays, and the goal is for each student to have a laptop for lessons, writing, artwork and research. Electronic textbooks are more affordable than physical books, Cooper said, and are constantly updated. One online book goes for $15 and a traditional text book costs $90. Currently the school has 130 Chrome Books for students, and would like to buy more because they are very affordable, at $150 each.

Other ideas discussed for the money included more outdoor learning stations, improving the middle school playground, keeping software updated, updating library books, improved lockers for the middle school, and additional tech support.

"We have just one tech support person on staff to cover all the students and administration," said Sherri Maxwell, elementary school principal.

Parent Bridget Ambler said she is concerned about budget cuts that would hurt student achievement.

"We rely on Kinder Morgan CO2 production for a large part of our tax base, and if those fields dry up, we will face a fiscal cliff," she said. "Looking to our future, I'm convinced we have a duty to invest in our schools regardless if (your are) a parent or not."

Keeping teacher pay competitive is a constant challenge, Cooper said, and the mill levy helps to recruit and retain qualified staff.

"In the immediate region, we are competitive, but if we drop off, the best teachers move towards the better pay," he said.

Maintenance director Frank Lopez said the funding is key to keeping the school running smoothly.

"Without it the maintenance would slow down," he said. "It helps out the school quite a bit."

Alternative forms of funding were discussed such as grants. They are continually sought, but are less reliable than the mill because they are very temporary, and what they can be used for is less flexible, Maxwell said.

"If the mill levy is allowed to expire, then there will be budget cuts," she said.

To sell it to the public, the school needs to be specific about what the mill override funds will provide, said parent Keith Moore. Passing on some supply costs to parents is a possible option to save money.

"The laptops are so affordable they could be part of the supply list for each student," Moore said. "There could be a sliding scale (for low income), and scholarships offered for student computers as well."

Another brainstorming session on the mill levy override will be in June.