More than a third of Denver voters say taxes are “way too high,” according to a poll released shortly after Mayor Mike Johnston and his allies unveiled a plan to increase sales taxes. 

The poll from the Colorado Polling Institute said 29% regard taxes as “high but acceptable,” while about the same number — 27% — view taxes as “about right.”  

Arguing $100 million more annually is necessary to build thousands of affordable housing units, Johnston and some of the council’s most progressive members are pushing for a 0.5-point tax hike, the second sales tax increase that Denver’s elected officials want voters to pass this November. If voters said yes to both measures, the city’s sales tax rate would become the highest in all of metro Denver and northern Colorado, nearly rivaling the state’s resort towns.

The new poll said about half of Denver voters approve of the direction the city is heading and hold a positive view of Johnston.

Two previous polls showed voters’ differing views on Johnston’s performance as mayor. The first, conducted by Magellan Strategies on behalf of the city, found 50% of the 1,600 people surveyed disapproved of Johnston’s performance. The second, from Keating Research found 60% of respondents with a favorable view.

While the poll from Magellan surveyed more 1,600 respondents, the sample size in the latest poll from the Colorado Polling Institute was 409.

A bipartisan team from Aspect Strategic, a Democratic pollster, and New Bridge Strategy, a Republican pollster, conducted the Colorado Polling Institute poll, which has a margin of error of 4.85 percentage points. 

The Keating Research actually conducted three polls — surveying 800 people in January, 500 in April and 500 in May — via live interviews. 

Though close to half of voters have a favorable view of the mayor, the amount of people with a negative take on Johnston has grown from 22% to 38% since its poll in August 2023, according to Colorado Polling Institute. People who struggle to make ends meet or have lived in Denver for 11 to 20 years or more were more likely to be critical of the mayor and the direction the city is heading.

A majority of the respondents believe Johnston has made progress in some of the city’s most pressing issues, which include homelessness, housing affordability and crime and public safety as top concerns.

“Mayor Johnston took office amid high voter concern on homelessness, crime, and the cost of living in the city and his first year was further complicated by the influx of migrants from Central and South America,” Lori Weigel from New Bridge Strategy said. “Against that backdrop, his favorability has improved slightly, and voters do sense — albeit slightly — that progress is being made.”

Respondents, however, indicate that Johnston has made no progress or made things worse when it came to addressing the ongoing illegal immigration crisis.

Homelessness beat out housing affordability and crime and public safety, with over half of respondents saying it is their primary concern. Affordable housing and crime and public safety were nearly tied at 31% and 30%.

Meanwhile, less than half say revitalizing downtown is a top or high priority, though those who reside closest to the area prioritize revitalization.

About two-thirds of respondents say they are satisfied with Denver as a place to live, citing weather and cultural amenities available in the city. About the same ratio (65%-35%) also say they are satisfied with services provided by Denver.  

Those who are dissatisfied (34%) say crime, safety and cost of living are their top concerns.

Meanwhile, just under three-fourths say they feel “very” or “somewhat” safe in the city.

“Despite largely positive personal experiences, many also see ongoing challenges, which aren’t seen as unique to Denver but nonetheless drive some worries about the direction of the city,” Kevin Ingham of Aspect Strategic said in a news release.

Voters’ opinion of the City Council has fallen — from 34%-42% favorable-unfavorable, compared to last August’s 38%-34%.