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Douglas County Ballot Issue 5A: What Happened

On November 5, 2026, Douglas County voters rejected a $54 million Mill Levy Override (MLO) for Douglas County School District RE-1—54% voted against it, 46% voted for it. Below is an overview of what was proposed, what supporters and opponents argued, and the financial context that led to the vote. 

 What the measure would have done:

The Douglas County School District Board of Education voted unanimously (7-0) on August 25, 2026, to place this measure on the November ballot. It would have raised property taxes to generate $54 million annually in the first year.

Homeowners would have paid approximately $33.70 per year for every $100,000 of assessed home value. For a home valued at $700,000, that would have been approximately $236 per year.

Unlike previous overrides, this one was indexed to inflation—meaning it would have increased each year automatically and had no expiration date.

How the $54 million would have been spent:

The district claimed to allocate the funds this way:

  • Teacher and Staff Compensation: $21.4 million (about 40%) for a 4% salary increase. District officials noted DCSD salaries were about 7% below the metro Denver average for starting teachers.
  • Charter Schools: $12 million (about 22%) based on student count
  • School Resource Officers and Security: Several million
  • Career and Technical Education Programs: $1-5 million range to reduce waitlists
  • Expanded Programs for Students with Disabilities: $1-5 million range
  • Instructional Materials and Workforce Development: $1-5 million range
  • Restored Programs: Including instrumental music in elementary schools

District spending over the last four years: 

Based on Colorado Department of Education data and district documents:

Fiscal Year 2024-2025: Total budget of approximately $1.187 billion, serving 61,851 students (spending per student: approximately $15,589 based on available projections)

Fiscal Year 2023-2024: Total spending of $1,113,763,951, serving 61,964 students (spending per student: approximately $13,777)

Fiscal Year 2022-2023: Total spending of $1,125,826,552, serving 62,872 students (spending per student: approximately $12,638)

Fiscal Year 2021-2022: Total spending of $1,020,342,014, serving 63,876 students

From fiscal year 2021-2022 to 2024-2025, total district spending increased by approximately $175.7 million (about a 17% increase), while student enrollment decreased by 2,025 students (from 63,876 to 61,851). This represents a decline of approximately 3%.

How money was spent in 2022-2023: 

  • Instructional Expenditures: $460,364,000 (about 57%)
  • Student and Staff Support: $88,667,000 (about 11%)
  • Administration: $122,935,000 (about 15%)
  • Operations, Food Service, Other: $134,864,000 (about 17%)
  • Capital Outlay: $89,528,000
  • Interest on Debt: $32,690,000
  • Construction: $31,116,000

 Funding sources in 2024-2025: 

  • Local: $642,681,034 (58%)
  • State: $434,444,356 (39%)
  • Federal: $29,600,926 (3%)

Recent voter decisions on funding: 

 Douglas County voters have faced several funding measures in recent years: 

  • 2018: $40 million/year mill levy override passed (I found confirmation of this amount but could not verify the frequently cited $250 million bond amount from 2018—if you have a source for that figure, please share it)
  • 2023: $66 million/year mill levy override passed
  • 2024: $490 million bond (5A) passed with 60% approval
  • 2026: $54 million/year mill levy override (5A) failed with 54% voting against

 Arguments for the override: 

  • Competitive Salaries: DCSD receives lower per-pupil funding than neighboring districts (Littleton, Cherry Creek, Denver) and needs competitive pay for teacher recruitment and retention

  • Budget Gap: The district faced a projected budget shortfall of $15-18 million due to rising healthcare costs (about $5 million), fuel and energy costs (about $6 million), and other financial pressures

  • Efficient Administration: Only 3% of district employees are administrators (compared to the 5% state average)

  • Inflation Protection: The indexed nature would ensure funding didn't lose value over time

  • Student Support: Would address waitlists for specialized programs, restore cut programs, and enhance school safety

  • Polling Data: A district-commissioned survey showed 55% support for the override

 Arguments against the override: 

  • Opponents (including the Douglas County Republican Party and residents) raised these concerns:

  • Voter Fatigue: This was the third major funding request since 2018, totaling over $1 billion in bonds plus significant annual overrides

  • Declining Enrollment: Student enrollment has declined by approximately 2,000 students since its recent peak, yet the budget continues to increase

  • No End Date: The override had no expiration date and was indexed to inflation, creating a permanent, automatically increasing tax

  • Property Tax Burden: Homeowners were experiencing significant property value increases and assessment increases without corresponding income increases

  • Fiscal Responsibility: Critics argued the district should demonstrate better efficiency with the substantial funding already approved

  • Pattern of Repeated Requests: The 2023 $66 million override for teacher compensation shows a pattern of repeated asks

 What's next: 

In a message to families and staff after the vote, Superintendent Erin Kane acknowledged the result and said district leaders remain focused on serving students while maintaining financial stability. The district will need to address the projected budget gap without the additional override funding. 

Sources & Limitations

This analysis draws from Colorado Department of Education data, district budget documents, news reports from The Denver Gazette, Colorado Politics, Parker Chronicle, CBS News Colorado, and the Kim Monson Newsroom, along with official district communications.

I could not verify the claim that enrollment peaked at exactly 67,600 in 2017—the district currently serves approximately 61,000-62,000 students, and enrollment has been declining, but I could not find a source confirming that specific peak figure. If you have documentation for this, it would strengthen the post.

Similarly, I found confirmation of the 2018 $40 million mill levy override but could not verify the $250 million bond amount frequently cited for 2018. This may need additional sourcing.

The spending figures are drawn from state financial transparency data and district budget documents, but different reporting methods can produce slightly different totals. The figures I've used represent the most recent official data available.

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