Black Hawk Council funds Gilpin School students

Along with many other charitable donations

Lynn Volkens

05/08/2008 - The City of Black Hawk was recently made the Denver news in reports televised by Channel 7’s, Tony Kovaleski and John Ferrugia. In one segment, Channel 7 reported that neighboring Central City had donated $75,000 to the local (Gilpin County) school last year, while Black Hawk’s Council had taken the stand, the school needed to “get its financial house in order.” Both the report of Central’s donation and the Black Hawk Council’s position on the school’s fiscal condition, are true. Had Kovaleski and Ferrugia looked a little further, they might have discovered that some residents of Central City objected to their city funds being given to a school district they already support via taxes. This amounts to double taxation, they say, and they point out in the year following that donation, their city had to borrow money to pay city servants and pay for city services. Central City is still paying interest on that loan. Had Kovaleski and Ferrugia investigated actual Black Hawk donations, they could have included the following information in their “expose.”

  The City of Black Hawk has given scholarships to Gilpin School graduates totaling $381,067 over the past 17 years. That averages out to about $22,415 per year. The grads put this money toward continuing education (college or vocational school). Black Hawk gives, not just to students who reside within Black Hawk city limits, but to any Gilpin School graduate and has included home-schooled students in the past. 208 individuals have received scholarships since the program, began in 1994. Students receive $1,000 per year, renewable each year they remain in their chosen educational program, up to four years. School administrators are well aware of Black Hawk’s scholarships and could have provided this information had Kovaleski or Ferrugia asked. Indeed, Gilpin School Superintendent Ken Ladouceur’s two children have received $4,000 each, courtesy of Black Hawk City Aldermen, to attend Colorado School of Mines. Bills for Gilpin students have also been paid at Colorado Technical University, Red Rocks Community College, Mesa State College, University of Colorado, Colorado School of Mines, DeVry University, The Art Institute, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Colorado State University, Drake University, University of Northern Colorado, University of Wyoming, Northeastern Junior College, Artistic Beauty College, Carroll College-Montana, Hillsdale College-Minnesota, Regis University, Laramie County Community College, AIMS Community College, Front Range Community College, Lamar County Community College, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Briar Cliff University-Iowa, and the Cleo Parker Robinson School of Dance. Graduating class size at Gilpin School, over the past five years, has averaged 25 students. Black Hawk therefore commits to a potential $25,000 for new scholarships every year. Gilpin students residing anywhere in the county, including neighboring Central City, are eligible. Central City began offering scholarships in 2006 for students who reside within Central itself.

  Records for the past five years show additional Black Hawk donations to Gilpin School totaling $42,515. The funds were used to support sports programs, choir, band and drama activities, spelling bee, year book, class picture gallery, sending students to conferences, and funding the after-prom parties. Black Hawk purchased computers ($8,000) for the school and sponsored “holes” for the school’s golf tournament fundraiser. Several students have had their individual educational trips partially funded by Black Hawk. Donations and scholarships received by Gilpin School students, courtesy of Black Hawk, now total nearly $424,000.

  The scholarship program, explained Black Hawk Mayor David Spellman, was something the City could do for the community. “We wanted to benefit all of the graduating students. It was never contemplated to be a full-ride scholarship, but a help in their efforts to go to college. If we were remiss in any way to the students of the school district, it is in not having allowed for an inflationary increase in the scholarship program since its inception and, during this next budget cycle, I will ask the Council if they would like to make that allowance.”

  Spellman stands behind his comment regarding the school’s financial condition. “When the comment was made about getting the school district’s financial house in order, it was not made as a comparison to Black Hawk or any other governmental entity in Gilpin County. Rather it was made to a separate taxing authority that had failed in its last attempt to convince the voters within its boundaries to increase the mil levy. To the extent the school district receives less state aid as a result of Gilpin County’s high property valuation, the County is the appropriate governmental entity for the school district to approach for a shortfall in revenue. In other words, the high valuation of the gaming property in Black Hawk and Central City is a very direct benefit to every tax payer in Gilpin County in the form of lower property taxes. If the school district is a victim of that benefit, in the form of less state aid, it is the umbrella governmental entity for all of the residents and property owners in Gilpin County that the school district should approach. That is precisely what a portion of the County’s 12% share of gaming tax revenue should go towards to offset an impact of gaming on Gilpin County as a whole.” Gilpin School currently receives approximately $11,000 per student as Per Pupil Operating Revenue (PPOR) from the state.

  Over the past five years, Black Hawk has contributed an average of $114,000 per year to other charitable events and organizations. The Central City Opera Association has benefited by $237,000 and other local events and groups (Main Street Central, Lou Bunch Days, Gilpin County Arts Association, Lady Elks, Gilpin County Historical Society, Chamber Music, Peak to Peak Chorale, etc.) have been funded to the tune of $49,350. The Mountain Veterans and other veterans groups brought the Moving Wall Viet Nam Veterans Memorial to Gilpin with $5,000 worth of Black Hawk’s help. The Veterans Memorial at the Community Center was partially funded by a gift of $2,500 to the American Legion. St. Mary’s, St.  Paul’s and St. James’ churches have been given a combined $17,500. Going a little further afield, the Clear Creek/Gilpin County Animal Shelter was built with $17,000 contributed by Black Hawk. Down the hill, the Blue Knights law enforcement organization was benefactor of $20,557. Children’s Hospital and other health help organizations received $20,900. Over Berthoud Pass, neighbor city Granby’s Disaster Fund swelled with $12,000. In southern Colorado, Ludlow’s United Mine Workers Memorial received $10,000. Katrina Hurricane victims were helped with $50,000 and Black Hawk sent $25,000 to the USO for support of American troops.

  All told, Black Hawk has given $949,591 in support of local, state and national communities by donation alone, and millions have been and continue to be generated for the state by Black Hawk’s commitment to the gaming industry.