Fiscally strapped school districts are already spending time and money on the state's new school voucher plan, even though the program won't start for another year.

The startup costs of school vouchers are likely to run into the thousands of dollars, and that is money that will not be recouped once students start using vouchers in fall 2004, school officials say.

"Everything we spend this year is money gone," said Glen Gustafson, chief financial officer with Colorado Springs School District 11. "We are very concerned because we are starting this new program with no additional funding."

District 11 is one of 11 Colorado districts that must begin offering taxpayer-supported vouchers to low-income students next fall so they can attend private schools if they choose. The 11 districts have the greatest number of low-performing schools.

District 11 is also struggling with declining enrollment and decreased property values, both of which cut into school funding.

But now District 11 and the 10 other districts must begin the administrative work of offering vouchers, including evaluating the private schools that want to participate. Another expense is finding and contacting eligible students - something that might cost District 11 almost $30,000, Gustafson said.

"We're not afraid of vouchers; in fact, we welcome the competition," Gustafson said. "But I think there are still a lot of unanswered questions out there for us."

Proponents of the law say school vouchers will be used by families to get their children out of Colorado's worst schools and into private schools.

Detractors say school vouchers will take needed money out of struggling public schools. They also point out that starting the voucher plan in Colorado with unforeseen expenses could cost ongoing school programs.

"It's a serious issue," said state Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder. "They are looking to take something from a school to pay for something like this."

Gustafson's frustration was evident Monday in a meeting at the Colorado Department of Education. He is a member of a committee charged with implementing vouchers along with voucher supporter and businessman Alex Cranberg.

Gustafson told committee members that trying to reach families in his district by direct mail to inform them of the voucher law could cost as much as $30,000, an expense the district will find tough to bear.

Cranberg, a businessman and voucher supporter, said districts still must do everything possible to reach families.

"If you are not even willing to spend a few thousand dollars, then you are not adhering to the spirit of this committee," Cranberg told Gustafson.

"That's easy for you to say," Gustafson responded.

He said the district already is suffering from a steady enrollment drop, which takes with it state funding. District 11 also lost about $3 million in mill-levy override money because of a decline in assessed valuations, Gustafson said.

"Things are not right for us financially," he said.

Other districts say they are taking on extra expenses and more people to handle voucher responsibilities.

The Jefferson County School District is paying a retired principal $5,000 to oversee its voucher program this semester, while Greeley School District 6 said it will probably spend an extra $12,500 for mailings to parents.

Lawmakers probably weren't aware that introducing school vouchers in Colorado would invite startup costs, say school officials.

"The devil, as they say, is in the details," said Greeley School District 6 administrator Cheryl Wangeman.

Voucher supporters say the school districts will still recoup funding over time. The voucher program allows some public funds to remain with a voucher student's former school.

"That's money they will be able to keep and they won't have to educate that child," said Pam Benigno, director of the Education Policy Center for the Golden-based Independence Institute.

School districts can also use funds from private groups to help get information to eligible families, Benigno said.

Colorado's voucher program could become the largest in the country, with a projected enrollment of 20,000 students.

But a variety of advocacy groups - the Colorado PTA, League of United Latin American Citizens, Interfaith Alliance of Colorado and Colorado NAACP - are suing to stop the voucher plan from being started. Their lawsuit says the voucher law violates the state constitution's prohibition against supporting private, religious schools.

The 11 school districts, meanwhile, still have to make sure vouchers are up and running by next fall, said Roscoe Davidson, deputy commissioner for the Colorado Department of Education.

"This is a law passed by the state legislature, and it's our responsibility to make this thing work as it was intended," Davidson said.