$4.5M increase in property tax on ’07 ballot, an article from The Gazette, reports that southern Colorado Springs voters will be asked on this years ballot to raise their school property taxes by $4.5 million annually to fund a list of improvements as part of a plan to raise student achievement.  The Harrison School District 2 ballot question says the money will pay for:  enhancing safety and security, attracting and retaining high-quality teachers and staff, updating and adding technology, paying for additional instructional days in the school calendar and providing performance-based incentives for teachers.  Much of the $4.5 million would go to compensate teachers.  School officials believe its teachers and support staff are the key to raising achievement.  The tax increase would be phased in over three years.
http://www.gazette.com/articles/school_28581___article.html/year_district.html

Paulson: Tough response needed for housing, an article from MSNBC.com, reports that on Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson called for an aggressive response to deal with an unfolding housing crisis that he said presents a significant risk to the economy.  Paulson said, "The longer housing prices remain stagnant or fall, the greater the penalty to our future economic growth."  According to Paulson, the government must balance the need to help homeowners stay in their homes against the threat that government action can encourage investors to make risky decisions in the future.  He also called for an overhaul of laws and regulations governing mortgage lending to halt abusive practices that contributed to the current crisis.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21322471/

Additional articles that you may find of interest:

County OKs expansion of gravel pit
http://www.gazette.com/articles/pit_28579___article.html/day_truck.html

Springs buys Wi-Fi networks for $10
http://www.gazette.com/articles/city_28571___article.html/networks_sodbinow.html

County residents can give to nonprofits, get a tax break
http://www.gazette.com/articles/zone_28570___article.html/county_enterprise.html

District ask voters to ok bond to build school
http://www.gazette.com/articles/school_28569___article.html/students_district.html

Mountain is just fine the way it is, panel says
http://www.gazette.com/articles/national_28577___article.html/peak_committee.html

Stocks slip on a housing slap
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_7197635
 
Builders' confidence at all-time low
http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/16/news/economy/builder_confidence/index.htm?postversion=2007101614
 
Real estate: More price drops, more layoffs
http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/17/real_estate/mba_forecast/index.htm