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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- It's the first time since 2003 that Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 has gone to the voters asking for a tax increase.

"We know that additional state cuts are coming, and the only way to insulate that from our classroom is with additional revenue," Walter Cooper, Superintendent of District 12, said.

Over the past three years, the district has lost almost $4 million with state budget cuts and have closed an elementary school, eliminated foreign language from elementary school curriculum and lost 30 teachers.

"The kids didn't justify the elementary school, and that's forward thinking. I think it would be unfair for leadership to be punished for being proactive," Keith Krueger, a D-12 taxpayer, said.

But with a revenue forecast of $200-$250 million cuts coming statewide, the extra funding will help the district prevent additional cuts in the future.

"We just have a history of a wonderful district, and it needs to stay that way," Barbara Lewis, a D-12 taxpayer, said.

The mill levy override would increase funding by $1.7 million annually and breaks down to $2.85 per month per $100,000 home value.

The district thinks this is a responsible way to increase revenue.

"We spend the vast majority of our dollars in our schools and classrooms. The downside is when we have to make significant cuts, that's where the cuts have to come."