Colorado School Tax Measures: Approval Rates Mixed in November Election
Voters rejected funding requests in major districts like Jeffco and Douglas County, but statewide measures promising billions in new revenue appear likely to pass.
By Madison Darwish ·
Colorado voters cast ballots on 33 school district property tax measures on Nov. 3. Unofficial results indicate that approximately 60% of these local proposals received approval. The successful measures spanned a wide range of district sizes, including Denver, the state’s largest district, and Prairie, one of the smallest.
This approval rate aligns with historical trends, as half to two-thirds of such measures typically pass. However, the outcome carries added weight due to two likely passing statewide ballot measures, Proposition NN and Amendment 87. These initiatives could channel billions of additional dollars to schools over the next decade, providing a financial cushion even in districts where local voters said no.
The ballot included three distinct categories of school district measures, as tracked by the Colorado School Finance Project. Bond measures, which fund construction and maintenance, fared well. Voters approved six of seven such proposals. Additionally, the Archuleta and Holyoke districts approved tax increases necessary to secure matching funds from the state’s Building Excellent Schools Today program.
Mill levy overrides, which generally cover operating costs like staff salaries, faced a tougher reception. Approximately a dozen of the 24 measures on the ballot passed. Wins were recorded in metro areas such as Denver, Littleton, and Westminster, as well as in mountain districts including Roaring Fork, Eagle County, Summit, and Telluride. Most of the 26 districts proposing these overrides planned to use the revenue to increase staff pay, expand career and technical education, and enhance school security.
Notable defeats occurred in two of the state’s largest districts. Douglas County School District and Jeffco Public Schools both saw two of their respective ballot measures fail. Rejections also took place in medium and small districts, including Mesa County Valley, Eaton, Hanover, and Hayden.
Interim Jeffco Superintendent Rob Stein and school board President Michelle Applegate issued a statement on Wednesday evening regarding the loss. They noted that the district’s needs remain high. Without the proposed funding, they said they would face difficult choices to balance priorities with available resources. District leaders had previously warned that failure could lead to school closures, staff layoffs, or salary freezes.
Fiona Boomer, executive director of the Douglas County Federation, attributed the local rejection to several factors, including a crowded ballot and less specific spending plans compared to a successful 2023 measure. She stated that the district made less effort this cycle than in 2023. The failed measure would have provided 4% raises to match Jeffco salaries. According to state data, the average Douglas County teacher earned about $74,000 last year, compared to approximately $82,000 in Jeffco and $96,000 in Cherry Creek. Boomer added that Douglas County has historically lagged in self-taxation for school funding relative to its metro neighbors.
