Denver Public Schools Ballot Issue 4A — Mill levy override (up to $44 million)

What it does

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?

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Left

YESNO

Right

A YES vote leans moderately left; a NO vote leans the other way (AI-estimated from the official ballot summary, 70% confidence).

Official text: source

Background

The Denver Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously on August 13, 2026 to place this mill levy override on the ballot, according to Chalkbeat.

According to the district, as reported by Chalkbeat, the $44 million would include $25.8 million for employee raises ($1,750 per full-time employee), $9.3 million for charter schools as required by state law, $4 million for career and technical education, $2.9 million for student mental health and $2 million for special education, and would cost about $72 a year on a median-priced Denver home.

The TABOR notice lists the district's estimated 2026-27 fiscal year spending as $1,732,617,232 and the maximum first-year amount of the tax increase as $44,000,000; Chalkbeat reports Denver voters last approved a mill levy override in 2020, for $32 million.

Put on the ballot by Denver Public Schools Board of Education, unanimous (per Chalkbeat), August 13, 2026.

From official source.

In the news

• Denver voters will consider $44 million tax increase to raise school employee pay, fund student services · Chalkbeat Colorado, 2026-08-14

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Quick answers

How many votes does Denver Public Schools Ballot Issue 4A need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Denver Public Schools Ballot Issue 4A?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.