Mixed results were tallied for school bond and mill-levy issues across the Denver metro area — with a few passing and most failing.
Cherry Creek, Aurora and St. Vrain school districts had successful bond and mill-levy elections Tuesday night.
Jefferson County, Douglas County, Brighton, Mapleton and Adams 12 all had bond and mill-levy measures that were failing.
Denver’s $454 million bond issue, which was the largest in state history, passed handily.
A record dollar amount for schools was on ballots throughout Colorado as voters weighed in on $2.7 billion worth of bond issues.
A total of 28 districts had bond and mill-levy overrides on the ballot.
All of the issues were put on ballots before the extent of the nation’s massive economic collapse was realized.
Voters in the Cherry Creek School District appeared to approve a $204 million construction-bond issue and $18 million annual mill-levy override
The bond will build three new elementary schools and pay for renovations at 17 schools and other repairs.
The levy will go for teacher pay and meeting special needs of children.
The combined tax increase will cost property owners roughly $17 a year for every $100,000 of valuation.
“We’re very optimistic,” said Tustin Amole, Cherry Creek spokeswoman. “We worked very hard for it. Cherry Creek has a reputation for excellence that we have worked very hard for, and people recognize and respond to it.”
Across the metro area in Jefferson County, the state’s largest district sought a $350 million bond and $34 million annual mill-levy override. Unofficial results showed both issues were failing.
Jeffco officials have said the district is facing $35 million in budget cuts over the next three years. The bond would pay for school construction, including adding two new elementary schools. The levy would support teacher salaries and rising fuel costs. Overall cost to taxpayers for both issues would be $35 a year per $100,000 of assessed property valuation.
In Douglas County, the $395 million bond and $17 million annual mill-levy override were failing by 7,000 votes.
The issues would raise taxes $31.84 a year per $100,000 valuation. The bond would have built 10 new elementary schools, renovated almost 50 schools and boosted technology infrastructure.
Aurora was narrowly passing both of its issues — a $215 million bond and $14.7 million annual mill-levy override. The bond would build a new high school and a K-8 school and renovate older schools. The cost to taxpayers would be $5.15 a month for every $100,000 of property value.
St. Vrain School District was narrowly passing its $16.5 million annual mill-levy override and getting more support for its $189 million bond.
The bond would pay for building repairs, infrastructure upgrades and the construction of a new high school in the Carbon Valley. The levy would pay for recruitment and retention of qualified teachers. Total cost to homeowners if both measures pass would be $74.40 per $100,000 of a home’s value.
Mapleton School District was seeing both its $64 million bond and $2.97 million annual mill-levy override failing. The bond would upgrade fire and security systems and renovate school entrances.
Brighton’s 27J School District also was seeing its $125 million bond and $3 million mill-levy override failing. The bond would pay for two elementary schools, one high school and improvements to existing schools.
Adams 12’s $80 million bond and $9.9 million mill-levy override appeared to be failing as well.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
