ElectionsWednesday, November 4
Denver voters appear to be approving a $44 million property tax increase for schools
The AM Denver team
If you own a home in Denver, your school tax bill is likely headed up. Ballot Issue 4A, a property tax increase that would give Denver Public Schools nearly $44 million more a year, was passing in early results Tuesday night, with 67% of voters approving.
Most of the money, $25.8 million, would go to raises: $1,750 for every full-time employee, prorated for part-timers. About $9.3 million would go to charter schools under state law.
Most of the $44 million would go to employee raises
DPS Ballot Issue 4A, $44 million, by where it comes from and where it goes
Comes from
$44 million
Goes to
Comes from
- $44M 4A property tax increase 100%
$44 million
Goes to
- $25.8M Employee raises 59%
- $9.3M Charter schools 21%
- $4.9M Mental health, special ed 11%
- $4M Career and technical ed 9%
Sources: Denver Gazette, Denverite, Chalkbeat
View as table
| Amount | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| From: 4A property tax increase | $44 million | 100% |
| To: Employee raises | $25.8 million | 59% |
| To: Charter schools | $9.3 million | 21% |
| To: Mental health, special ed | $4.9 million | 11% |
| To: Career and technical ed | $4 million | 9% |
- Rate: $11.50 more per $100,000 of home value
- Length: the override will not expire
- Existing overrides: DPS collected $369.6 million from them last year
- Board: voted unanimously to send 4A to the ballot
The flat raise means custodians and bus drivers would see a bigger percentage bump than teachers and principals. No campaign has formed against 4A, though critics say infighting on the elected school board should give voters pause.
$72more a year for a home worth $624,800
That's the city's median home value, and the district's estimate of the cost for the average Denver homeowner.
Sources: Denver Gazette, Denverite, Chalkbeat
Sources: Denver Gazette, Denverite, Chalkbeat