DPS Mill Levy and Bond Measure (Initiatives 4A / 4B)

This November’s ballot contains two initiatives that will directly impact DPS: the “Debt Free Schools” Mill Levy (initiative 4A) and the Bond Measure (initiative 4B). You will see them on the sixth and final page of your ballot.

If approved by voters, critical funding would go toward capital improvement projects and operational expenses, including school cooling and air conditioning, ECE program expansion, nursing and mental health supports, cost-of-living increases for teachers, and much more.

The bond measure, Ballot Initiative 4B, will provide $795-million in funding for new Denver Public Schools buildings, and for maintaining and improving existing school buildings.

These projects include:

• Air conditioning or other sustainable cooling solutions for 24 of the district’s hottest schools (scroll to the bottom of this link for a list of schools receiving air conditioning).
• $130 million for a rebuild or remodel of the Montbello campus, answering the community’s call for the return of a comprehensive high school.
• Funding for many older buildings and high-need schools to make school-determined, high-impact investments. These may include upgrades to classrooms, libraries, gymnasiums, cafeterias, or other common spaces.
• Expansion of ECE programs across our city. These will provide much-needed early childhood education options for more Denver families. Locations of these ECE programs will be determined at a later date.

Ballot Initiative 4A, a Mill Levy supporting Denver Public Schools, will appear on your ballot as the “Debt Free Schools ballot initiative”.

If approved, these Mill Levy funds will benefit provide $32-million every year, to directly benefit **every** school in the district. Much of that funding will go toward:

• Increased mental health support for students
• More school nurses
• Increased compensation for lower wage workers.
• A cost of living adjustment (COLA) for teachers.
• Increased support for Special Education

There are many other projects supporting Denver schools and our students that are included in the bond and mill levy measures. To see a full overview of how funding will be allocated across the district and how your specific school will benefit, visit bond.dpsk12.org

Click here for a closer look at how funding would be allocated across the district and at specific schools and here for the official language and pros and cons regarding the mill levy and bond.