IB-2005-A (March 2005)
Author: Ben DeGrow

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Summary
While renegotiating its collective bargaining agreement in 2004, Northglenn-Thornton School District No. 12 (Adams 12) agreed to allow more paid leave days to teachers’ union representatives and more extended leave to union officers. Adams 12 thus increased the taxpayer subsidy to the union by nearly 17 percent in one year. Many other Colorado school districts that already subsidize union activities through paid release time are bargaining their open agreements in 2005. Both local district policy makers and state legislators should work to prevent any diversion of taxpayer funds to the union’s private purposes.