Local measure · Boulder County
Boulder County 1AEarly childhood care and education tax
In plain words
- A new property tax of 2.579 mills, raising about $30 million in 2027.
- Pays for tuition aid for families earning up to $150,000, more infant and toddler slots, and grants to keep child care staff. Administration is capped at 10%.
- About $115 a year on a $725,000 home (the figure in the ballot question), or about $163 on a $1 million home.
- No end date was found. County commissioners referred it unanimously.
Our summary of the official materials and local reporting.
What your vote means
YES
Creates the new county property tax for child care and preschool.
NO
No new tax.
Our plain-words summary.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why supporters want it
- Supporters point to infant care costing $20,000 to $23,000 a year and about one licensed slot for every four infants who need care. source: boulderreportinglab.org
Why opponents object
- No organized opposition was found. PLAN-Boulder took no position, citing the overall tax burden in a year of large tax requests. source: boulderreportinglab.org
Who backs each side
- Brighter Start Boulder County (for) received $35,000 from the Early Childhood Council; its total was not confirmed. source: boulderreportinglab.org
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
Official ballot wording
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
Word for word from the Boulder County sample ballot (PDF ).
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION MILL LEVY INCREASE AND VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE
SHALL BOULDER COUNTY TAXES BE INCREASED $30,000,000 ANNUALLY (IN TAX COLLECTION YEAR 2027), AND BY SUCH ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, BY A MILL LEVY IMPOSED AT A RATE OF 2.579 MILLS (EQUATING TO APPROXIMATELY $115 PER YEAR ON A $725,000 HOME BASED ON CURRENT RATES OF ASSESSMENT) FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADDRESSING THE SHORTAGE AND HIGH COST OF CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR BOULDER COUNTY FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, INCLUDING: LOWERING THE HIGH COST OF CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL FOR BOULDER COUNTY FAMILIES; INCREASING THE COMPENSATION OF CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL TEACHERS AND STAFF TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATORS; AND ADDRESSING THE SHORTAGE OF CARE BY EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR MORE CHILDREN AND REDUCING WAITLISTS; AND SHALL THE REVENUES AND EARNINGS ON THE INVESTMENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH TAX CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 29-1-301 OF THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES, ALL AS MORE PARTICULARLY SET FORTH IN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' RESOLUTION NO. 2026-048?
Latest news
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What people are saying
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