Local ballot measure

Denver Public Schools' request to raise its mill levy override limit from 25% to 29% of total program funding, starting with up to $44 million in 2026

On the November 3, 2026 ballot

Denver Public Schools mill levy override question

Who is asking

School District No. 1 in the City and County of Denver (Denver Public Schools)

On the ballot in

Denver County ballot: 4A

The ballot question

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?

Where the question's words come from

Source document for the question text (Denver Clerk and Recorder)

What a vote does

A yes vote means: DPS may impose the additional property tax, raise its override limit and retain investment earnings on the new tax proceeds above TABOR’s revenue limit.
A no vote means: DPS does not receive this additional tax authority or the requested treatment of investment earnings.

Figures from the TABOR notice

District Estimate of the Maximum Dollar Amount of the Proposed Tax Increase For Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (the First Full Fiscal Year of the Proposed Tax Increase): BALLOT ISSUE 4A: $44,000,000
District Estimate of 2026-2027 Fiscal Year Spending Without the Proposed Tax Increase: $1,732,617,232

Denver Clerk and Recorder TABOR notice, dated September 21, 2026

County ballots

Denver County

Other local measures on the same ballot

The guide opens October 12

Key dates

October 2 to October 9: county clerks mail ballots to active voters.
October 12: drop boxes open.
October 26: last suggested day to return a ballot by mail.
From October 27: return your ballot to a drop box or vote center instead of mailing it.
November 3, 2026, Election Day: ballots are due by 7:00 p.m.

Page updated September 29, 2026