Denver 9News education reporter Nelson Garcia recorded comment from senior education policy analyst Ben DeGrow in a story about Denver Public Schools’ consideration of placing a combined $500 million property tax increase on this fall’s ballot for voters to decide:

“It’s an impact on families all across the economic spectrum, but especially those who have lower income or middle income families who are working hard and struggling to put food on the table,” DeGrow said.

DeGrow points out that last year when voters were asked a similar question to raise taxes statewide for schools, Proposition 103, it was defeated soundly.

Newly-released data from the Colorado Department of Education show that in 2010-11 Denver Public Schools spent more than $800 million ($11,000 per pupil) on instructional and support services, and an additional $400 million ($5,500 per pupil) on “other expenditures.” From 2000 to 2010, Colorado’s total K-12 per pupil spending grew by 24.4 percent in real dollars.

The 9News story includes complete 2-minute video of the televised report.