School districts’ $900M funding request on ballot

Colorado’s second and thirdlargest school districts will be asking voters for nearly $900 million this fall, after both the Jefferson County and Douglas County school districts this week sent taxhike measures to their respective ballots.

Jefferson County, whose board voted Thursday to put forward the district’s biggest funding request ever, will ask voters to pass a $567 million bond measure and a $33 million mill levy override Nov. 6. Douglas County is seeking a $250 million bond issue and $40 million mill levy override — a request it decided to bring to voters Tuesday.

For a $400,000 home in Jefferson County, a homeowner will pay an additional $188 in property tax a year. In Douglas County, the extra tax will amount to $177 a year on a $400,000 home.

The measures will likely face a tough climb in both districts. The last successful ballot issue for schools in Douglas County was passed 12 years ago, though the newly appointed superintendent of the 67,000student district — Thomas Tucker — is known for coaxing money from voters in previous districts he has led.

Jefferson County also has a new leader since voters rejected a slightly smaller funding package of $568 million in 2016 — Jason Glass was chosen as superintendent of the 86,000student district last year.

But whether Glass or Tucker can succeed on a ballot that will have two competing statewide tax hike issues — one for schools and one for transportation — is an open question. Jefferson County voters haven’t passed a substantial school funding measure since 2004.

Both districts have identified substantial capital improvements that are needed to address aging buildings and to pay for new classroom technology.