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Steamboat Springs — A new breed of yard sign will begin sprouting across Steamboat Springs in the coming months, as the "1/2 Cent Makes Sense" campaign to renew the city's Education Fund Board sales tax begins a push to the November elections.

During strategy sessions, Steamboat Springs School Board President Robin Crossan has led the group to make promotional materials for the campaign. The group is now in the process of creating buttons, handouts, yard signs, bumper stickers and a host of other advertisements ahead of the Sept. 23 public meeting.

At that meeting, Crossan hopes to create a separate leadership team to push the campaign to completion, but Fund Board President Tom Ptach said he was surprised by the low turnouts for campaign strategy sessions.

"That's frustrating that more people aren't coming to meetings," he said. "I hope we see some teachers on it."

Ptach has said he will not be a part of the campaign because of his position as the Fund Board's president.

The citywide, half-cent sales tax generates more than $3 million dollars a year for the schools, and about 70 percent of that revenue is from tourists, Fund Board advocates say.

The money is used to create smaller class sizes, buy and upgrade computer technology and fund several salaried positions in the district, including the district grant writer, who also seeks funds for the Hayden and South Routt school districts.

The Fund Board tax is the only local issue on the November ballot, behind 18 statewide ballot questions.

"We'll be the only game in town, which is good," said Russ Garrity, a campaign worker from South Routt.

Crossan agreed but said, "I don't think we can assume anything will pass."

The money previously has gone only to the Steamboat Springs School District. In November, however, voters will have the chance - in two separate questions - to vote whether to renew the tax and whether to share the money with the South Routt and Hayden school districts.

The group is advocating approval of both ballot items.

If passed, the second measure would not require the Fund Board to share any set amount with other districts, but it would allow representatives of those districts to make requests of the board.

Scott Mader, superintendent of the South Routt School District, said he was pleased with the idea.

"I think the wording is great. It's the way it ought to be so there's no set amount, but we can apply," he said. "If the Fund Board thinks it's a deserving application and a good use of funds they have the ability to approve" a request.

Mader said funds likely would be requested to update computer technology in South Routt schools.

"I'm looking forward to the possibility to apply to the Fund Board for some funds," he said. "It would make an unbelievable difference."

First created in 1993, the Fund Board was renewed by voters twice, in 1996 and 2001, and is set to expire in December 2009.

If the tax renewal campaign fails this year, the campaign will have another chance in November 2009.