Douglas County School District RE-1 Ballot Issue 5A

What it does

SHALL DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-1 TAXES BE INCREASED $54 MILLION COMMENCING IN 2026 FOR TAX COLLECTION IN YEAR 2027 TO BE USED FOR GENERAL FUND PURPOSES INCLUDING: RETAIN AND ATTRACT TOP QUALITY TEACHERS AND STAFF, WITH SALARIES TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE WITH NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS, AND TO BETTER KEEP PACE WITH INFLATION; SUPPORT INCREASING COSTS OF SCHOOL SECURITY, INCLUDING SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS; REDUCE STUDENT WAITLISTS FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING THE TRADES; RESTORE STUDENT PROGRAMMING, SUCH AS INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS; AND BE IMPOSED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER AMOUNTS ARE RAISED BY THE IMPOSITION OF A MILL LEVY WHICH, WHEN COMBINED WITH PRIOR VOTER APPROVED OVERRIDE QUESTIONS, SHALL PRODUCE REVENUE NOT TO EXCEED THE LIMIT ESTABLISHED FOR THE DISTRICT BY SECTION 22-54-108(3)(B) (VI), C.R.S., AND SHALL THE REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES AND ANY EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH REVENUES BE COLLECTED AND SPENT AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION AND ANY OTHER LAW; AND SHALL THE DISTRICT'S EXPENDITURES BE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDIT POSTED ON ITS WEBSITE AND BE SUBJECT TO OVERSIGHT BY A CITIZENS' COMMITTEE?

A YES vote means

Douglas County School District RE-1 taxes would rise $54 million for 2027 collection, through a mill levy within the state limit, for teacher and staff pay, school security, career and technical education and restoring programs such as elementary instrumental music, with an annual audit and citizen oversight.

A NO vote means

Douglas County School District RE-1 taxes would not rise by this $54 million.

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

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

The Douglas County School District Board of Education voted unanimously on August 25, 2026, to place this $54 million mill levy override on the November ballot, according to the district.

The district says the money would go to more competitive salaries for teachers and staff, rising school security costs including school resource officers, shorter waitlists for career and technical education, and restoring programs such as elementary instrumental music.

According to the Douglas County ballot issue notice, the district's fiscal year spending rose from $683,119,850 in 2022-23 to an estimated $879,274,454 in 2026-27; the measure would be capped at the state limit on voter-approved overrides and subject to an annual independent audit and citizens' oversight.

The county notice includes a summary of written comments in favor and states that no comments against were filed by the constitutional deadline.

Put on the ballot by Douglas County School District RE-1 Board of Education, unanimous, August 25, 2026.

From official source 1, official source 2.

In the news

• Douglas County Schools puts $54M mill levy override on November ballot · Colorado Politics

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Douglas County School District RE-1 Ballot Issue 5A mean?

Douglas County School District RE-1 taxes would rise $54 million for 2027 collection, through a mill levy within the state limit, for teacher and staff pay, school security, career and technical education and restoring programs such as elementary instrumental music, with an annual audit and citizen oversight.

What does a NO vote on Douglas County School District RE-1 Ballot Issue 5A mean?

Douglas County School District RE-1 taxes would not rise by this $54 million.

How many votes does Douglas County School District RE-1 Ballot Issue 5A 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 Douglas County School District RE-1 Ballot Issue 5A?

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.