School & Special Districts
Denver Public Schools Ballot Issue 4ADPS mill levy override, up to $44 million annually
Sourced facts
Official ballot title
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?
Verbatim from: Denver 2026 TABOR Ballot Issue Notice (Denver Elections Division)
Summary
Asks Denver voters to authorize Denver Public Schools to raise property taxes by up to $44 million a year through a mill levy override for its general fund, with listed purposes including educator pay, career and technical education, and student mental health and special education.
Plain-language summary written for this guide from the sources below.
What a YES vote does
Denver Public Schools is authorized to increase property taxes by up to $44 million in 2026 (for collection in 2027) and annually thereafter through a mill levy override deposited in the district’s general fund.
What a NO vote does
The proposed property tax increase is not authorized.
Plain-language description, not official text. The Denver Ballot Information Booklet and TABOR notice do not include official yes/no vote descriptions for this measure.
How it got on the ballot
- Referred by the Denver Public Schools Board of Education, Resolution No. 5241, at a special meeting Aug 13, 2026. [DPS Board of Education: Special Board Meeting minutes, Aug 13, 2026]
- Board vote: passed 7–0. Voted yes: Sia, Gaytán, De La Rosa, Youngquist, Torres, Klein Molk, Hunter. [DPS Board of Education: Special Board Meeting minutes, Aug 13, 2026]
Official fiscal information
- District estimate of the maximum dollar amount of the proposed tax increase for fiscal year 2026-2027 (the first full fiscal year): $44,000,000. (Estimated)
- District estimate of 2026-2027 fiscal year spending without the proposed tax increase: $1,732,617,232. (Estimated)
- Total district fiscal year spending: 2022-23 $1,466,768,935 (actual); 2023-24 $1,550,870,445 (actual); 2024-25 $1,680,358,077 (actual); 2025-26 $1,719,329,949 (estimated); 2026-27 $1,732,617,232 (estimated). Overall change 2022-23 to 2026-27: 18.12% / $265,848,297.
From the official source’s fiscal section. Figures marked “(Estimated)” are estimates or projections in the source.