Local ballot measure
Mesa County Valley School District 51 Mill Levy Override
On the November 3, 2026 ballot
Mesa County Valley School District 51 Ballot Issue 4A
Who is asking
Mesa County Valley School District 51
On the ballot in
- Mesa County ballot: 4A
The ballot question
SHALL MESA COUNTY VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT 51 TAXES BE INCREASED UP TO $23.2 MILLION IN 2026 FOR COLLECTION IN 2027 AND BY WHATEVER AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER FROM AN OVERRIDE MILL LEVY IMPOSED AT A RATE NOT TO EXCEED 7.850 MILLS, WHICH MILL LEVY MAY BE INCREASED IN ANY YEAR FOR INFLATION BASED ON THE ANNUAL CHANGES IN THE DENVER-BOULDER CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, AND WHICH WOULD COST A HOMEOWNER AN ESTIMATED $18.09 PER MONTH ON AN AVERAGE HOME VALUED AT $400,000 BASED ON THE ASSESSED VALUE AND ASSESSMENT RATES AS OF DECEMBER 2025 AND DOES NOT REFLECT FUTURE CHANGES IN ASSESSED VALUE, ASSESSMENT RATE, OR LAW, FOR GENERAL FUND PURPOSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: MAINTAIN AND EXPAND EFFORTS TO ENSURE A SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF, SUCH AS ADDING ADDITIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY OFFICERS AND SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS; MAINTAIN AND EXPAND WORKFORCE READINESS OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND STEM PROGRAMMING (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH), BY PROVIDING REAL-WORLD, HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS AT EVERY LEVEL; KEEP AND ATTRACT HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS BY BRINGING SALARIES AND BENEFITS CLOSER TO THE MARKET AVERAGE COMPARED TO PEER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ANNUAL SALARY AND BENEFIT INCREASES FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF FOR CONTINUED SERVICE; AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDIT PUBLISHED ON THE DISTRICT’S WEBSITE; AND SHALL SUCH TAX INCREASE BE AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX MILL LEVY IN EXCESS OF THE LEVY AUTHORIZED FOR THE DISTRICT'S GENERAL FUND, PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 22-54-108, C.R.S.; AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT THE FULL AMOUNT OF REVENUE AUTHORIZED BY THIS QUESTION AND PRIOR MILL LEVY OVERRIDE QUESTIONS SUBJECT TO THE LIMIT ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 22-54-108(3)(B)(VI), C.R.S.; AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT, RETAIN, AND SPEND ALL REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES AND THE EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH REVENUES AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION?
Where the question's words come from
What a vote does
- A yes vote means
- Authorizes the additional general-fund property tax, possible inflation increases to its levy and collection outside TABOR limits, with an independent annual audit.
- A no vote means
- Rejects this proposed additional school property tax override.
County ballots
Other local measures on the same ballot
- 2A, Town of Palisade: Palisade Town Sales Tax Increase for Streets, Parks and Emergency Services
- 2B, City of Grand Junction: Grand Junction 2B: Sales tax and borrowing for the Orchard Mesa pool
- 2C, Town of De Beque: De Beque 2C: A tax by the pound on medical marijuana
- 6A, Palisade Rural Fire Protection District: Palisade Rural Fire operating levy and revenue exemption
The guide opens October 12
Sign up and you’ll get an email the day the guide is out.
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