Local measure · Denver County
Denver Public Schools 4ADPS property tax (mill levy override)
In plain words
- Would let DPS raise property taxes by up to $44 million in 2026 (collected in 2027) and annually after that.
- Uses named in coverage: educator and staff pay, career and technical education, and student mental health and special education.
- Denver DSA reports $25.8 million would fund a $1,750 raise for each full-time DPS employee plus incentives; the Gazette reports $44 million per year for CTE and $5 million per year for student mental health and staff for students with disabilities. The two accounts differ and have not been reconciled.
- Denver DSA reports the school board passed it unanimously and the Denver Classroom Teachers Association backs it; state law requires about $9.3 million to be shared with charter schools.
Cost: About $11.50 per year per $100,000 of home value; about $72 per year for Denver's median home of $624,800 (Denver Gazette summary of voter booklet).
Our summary of the official materials and local reporting.
What your vote means
YES
Authorizes DPS to raise property taxes by up to $44 million per year.
NO
DPS property tax rate stays the same.
Our plain-words summary.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why supporters want it
- Supporters say it raises base pay by $1,750 per year for employees including support staff, and funds career and technical education and student mental health and disability services (Denver Gazette summary of voter booklet). source: denvergazette.com
- Denver Classroom Teachers Association supports it, per Denver DSA. source: denverdsa.org
Why opponents object
No public statement found.
Who backs each side
- No committee or campaign finance information found. source: denvergazette.com
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 Denver County sample ballot.
DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS BALLOT ISSUE 4A
SHALL DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS (SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1) TAXES BE INCREASED UP TO $44 MILLION IN 2026 (FOR COLLECTION IN 2027) AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: - INCREASING EDUCATOR PAY; - OFFERING STUDENTS MORE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSES IN HIGH DEMAND FIELDS; - STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND SPECIAL EDUCATION; WITH ALL SPENDING OF SUCH REVENUES REPORTED IN THE DISTRICT'S ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDIT PUBLISHED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE; BY THE IMPOSITION OF A MILL LEVY THAT, WHEN COMBINED WITH OTHER MILL LEVY OVERRIDES APPROVED BY DENVER VOTERS FOR THE DISTRICT'S GENERAL FUND, EQUALS THE AMOUNT PERMITTED BY SECTION 22-54-108(3)(B)(VI), BY THE LEVY OF PROPERTY TAXES AT A RATE SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE SUCH AMOUNTS; WHICH TAXES SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE DISTRICT AND SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE LEVIED FOR THE GENERAL FUND; AND SHALL INVESTMENT EARNINGS ON THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH TAXES BE TREATED AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION?
- YES/FOR
- NO/AGAINST
Latest news
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What people are saying
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