2026 Mill Levy Override and Special Mill

What Jeffco Voters Need to Know

About the Proposal

At the August 20, 2026 Regular Board Meeting, the Board of Education for Jeffco Public Schools approved a resolution to seek a $73 million mill levy override and a $60 million special purpose mill in Jefferson and Broomfield counties.

A mill levy override is an increase of the previous voter-approved tax rate (mill levy) that can be used for teacher salaries, academic programming, classroom supplies, and more. The special purpose mill is a voter-approved tax that can be used for capital, construction, technology, and maintenance. Due to the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), taxing districts in Colorado are required to ask voters about any increases that affect property taxes.

What Would It Cost?

If passed by voters, the estimated monthly impact for a homeowner in Jefferson and Broomfield counties is $3.50 for every $100,000 of actual home value (for example, if a home is worth $650,000, the median home value in Jefferson County, this means a monthly increase of approximately $22.75 or about $273 annually).

Ballot Language

Expand the section below to read the ballot language.

View the Full Resolution

Ballot Issue Language

Ballot Issue Language

BALLOT ISSUE 5[ ]
SHALL JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT R-1 TAXES BE INCREASED $73 MILLION IN 2026 FOR COLLECTION IN 2027, AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS THAT WILL PRODUCE, WHEN COMBINED WITH PRIOR MILL LEVY OVERRIDE AMOUNTS, UP TO THE LIMIT ESTABLISHED FOR THE DISTRICT BY SECTION 22-54-108(3)(B)(VI), C.R.S., WITH SUCH FUNDS TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSES AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 22-54-108, C.R.S., SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING:

ATTRACTING AND KEEPING HIGH-QUALITY STAFF BY RAISING COMPENSATION CLOSER TO THE MARKET AVERAGE FOR TEACHERS, EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, SUPPORT STAFF, AND SCHOOL LEADERS;
PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH THE INSTRUCTION, SKILLS, AND HANDS-ON LEARNING NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND THE WORKPLACE THROUGH CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS;

AND SHALL THE SPENDING OF SUCH TAXES BE REVIEWED BY A BOARD-APPOINTED CITIZENS’ COMMITTEE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, SUMMARIZED IN ANNUAL PUBLIC REPORTS, AND POSTED PUBLICLY ON A WEBSITE FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY;

AND SHALL A MILL LEVY BE IMPOSED AT A RATE WHICH WILL GENERATE REVENUES UP TO THE LIMIT ESTABLISHED FOR THE DISTRICT BY SECTION 22-54-108(3)(B)(VI), C.R.S., AND SHALL THE ADDITIONAL REVENUES BE DEPOSITED IN THE GENERAL FUND AND USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AS PROVIDED HEREIN, AS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE DISTRICT VOTERS PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-54-108(V), C.R.S., AND AS AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW; AND SHALL THE REVENUE FROM SUCH TAXES AND ANY EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT THEREON BE COLLECTED AND SPENT AS VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION AND ANY OTHER LAW?

BALLOT ISSUE 5[ ]
SHALL JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT R-1 TAXES BE INCREASED $60 MILLION IN 2026 FOR COLLECTION IN 2027, AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER AND UTILIZED FOR THE PURPOSES AUTHORIZED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 22-54-108.7, C.R.S. (THE DEBT FREE SCHOOLS ACT), PROVIDED THAT SUCH REVENUE MAY BE INCREASED ANNUALLY (AFTER THE FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR) FOR INFLATION BASED ON THE ANNUAL CHANGES IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX; WITH SUCH REVENUE TO BE DEPOSITED INTO A DEDICATED FUND ONLY TO BE USED FOR CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION, TECHNOLOGY, AND MAINTENANCE AND UTILIZED FOR AUTHORIZED PURPOSES SUCH AS:

CRITICAL UPGRADES AND MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOLS SUCH AS PLUMBING IMPROVEMENTS, PARKING LOT REPAIRS, AND REPLACING OR REPAIRING FAULTY, DANGEROUS, AND LEAKING ROOFS.
PROVIDING AND REPAIRING COOLING, HEATING, AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS FOR A BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT;
REPLACING AND UPDATING AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY;
SAFETY AND SECURITY INVESTMENTS SUCH AS SECURE ACCESS AND MONITORING;

AND SHALL A MILL LEVY BE IMPOSED AT A RATE SUFFICIENT TO GENERATE REVENUES UP TO SUCH AMOUNT SPECIFIED ABOVE, 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?

Arguments For the Mill Levies Passing

Our students thrive when they’re learning from highly effective teachers, but Jeffco Public Schools ranks near the bottom (9 out of 10) in midpoint teacher salaries compared to nearby districts, putting Jeffco at a competitive disadvantage in attracting and keeping top-tier staff.
Approximately 1,500 students are on the waitlist for Warren Tech for the 2026-27 school year. Additional funding would expand career and technical education opportunities for more students to take advantage of.
Additional funding would allow Jeffco Public Schools to address urgent repairs, maintain facilities and technology, and strengthen safety and security—thereby protecting instructional time and creating safer, warmer, and more efficient learning environments.
Due to the lack of adequate funding, Jeffco Public Schools had to cut $30 million for the 2025-26 school year, leading to larger class sizes and fewer class offerings or electives for students to choose from.

Arguments Against the Mill Levies Passing

These initiatives would raise taxes. In Jeffco Public Schools, the mill levy proposal is estimated to cost a homeowner about $3.50/month per $100,000 of actual home value.
Some voters may be concerned about how the additional money will be spent and whether there will be enough accountability.
Some voters may believe the district should live within its current budget rather than ask taxpayers for more money.
Some voters believe the State should find a way to provide more funding for schools rather than asking the taxpayers for more.