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<br />I <br /> <br />.. <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />This section prohibits the use of "public moneys from any source," not the use of "public funds". <br />The general assembly thus selected a phrase not previously construed in seeking to limit the expenditure <br />of funds by various governmental entities for certain purposes. Denver Area Labor Fed'n v. Buckley, 924 <br />P.2d 524 (Colo. 1996). <br /> <br />This section tends to promote public confidence in govemment by prohibiting the use of moneys <br />authorized for expenditure by political subdivisions for specified public purposes to advance the personal <br />viewpoint of one group over another. A political subdivision's use of moneys that were authorized for <br />expenditure for the benefit of an insured to oppose the passage of an amendment proposed by an insured <br />is the type of conduct the general assembly intended to prohibit by the enactment of this section. Denver <br />Area Labor Fed'n v. Buckley, 924 P.2d 524 (Colo. 1996). <br /> <br />What is of "official concern" to school district board of education is to be determined by <br />reference to the official powers and duties delegated by the general assembly in the school laws. <br />Mountain States Legal Foundation v. Denver School Dis!. No. 1,459 F. Supp. 357 (D. Colo. 1978). <br /> <br />A matter of official concern is one which at the very least involves questions which come before <br />the officials for an official decision. Campbell v. Joint Dis!. 28-J, 704 F.2d 501 (lOth Cir. 1983). <br /> <br />Proposed constitutional amendment not of official concern. A proposed amendment to the state <br />constitution on a general election ballot is not a matter of official concern. Campbell v. Joint Dis!. 28-J, <br />704 F.2d 501 (lOth Cir. 1983). <br /> <br />Not determined solely by board. The characterization of a campaign issue as being of "official <br />concern" is not a judgment which can be made solely by the board of education; such an interpretation of <br />this section would give unlimited discretion to the school board to use school funds and school facilities <br />whenever it suited the personal preference of the majority of the members. Mountain States Legal <br />Foundation v. Denver School Dis!. No. 1,459 F. Supp. 357 (D. Colo. 1978). <br /> <br />This section allows an employee with policy-making responsibility to expend public funds up to <br />the $50 limit in expressing an opinion about a pending ballot issue. Regents of the University of Colorado <br />v. Meyer, 899 P.2d 316 (Colo. App. 1995). <br /> <br />Public school payroll deduction system for teachers' union dues, a portion of which was given by <br />the union to a political action committee, did not constitute a "contribution in kind" because it did not <br />support a specific "issue" or "candidate" that the political action committee supported or opposed during <br />the time that the district made the payroll deductions. Mountain States v. Secretary of State, 946 P.2d 586 <br />(Colo. App. 1997) (decided under law in effect prior to 1997 amendment).. <br />