Voters in Jefferson County will decide this November whether or not to approve a $133 million mill-levy override that Jeffco Public Schools officials say is needed to cover funding shortfalls in the district. 

The Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education has been considering asking voters to approve the mill levy for several months. Interim superintendent Rob Stein told The Denver Gazette in an interview last month that in addition to covering funding gaps, the tax rate increase is needed for teacher compensation increases and facility maintenance. If approved, it will be the first tax rate increase in Jeffco since 2018.

Jeffco has been operating with a deficit budget over the past few years in the range of tens of millions of dollars. The district made $40 million in “difficult cuts” this past year, and tried to keep cuts away from the classroom. Board member Erin Kenworthy said during Thursday’s school board meeting that another round of cuts would mean an impact in the classroom.

“Declining enrollment and state funding limitations mean we must rely on community support to stay competitive with neighboring districts,” she said. 

Board Secretary Denine Echevaria said during the meeting that if the proposal does not get approved by voters, additional cuts will need to be made that could mean more hardships for staff.

The school board unanimously approved the ballot measure, which will be put before voters during the Nov. 3 election. Those in attendance at the meeting cheered and applauded the approval.

During the school board meeting’s public comment period, many people spoke in favor of the tax rate increase. Kris Clark, a junior at Chatfield High School, said she has noticed an increase in her class sizes due to budget shortfalls. Lucia Rubino, a junior at Lakewood High School, also said she has seen increases in fees passed on to students and their families, such as a $200 athletic fee and said she is worried that students will lose access to extracurricular activities should the MLO not be approved.

One speaker, Chuck Adams of Golden, spoke against the proposed tax rate increase. He said that Jeffco families are already struggling with rising costs and taxes, and asked the district to first disclose how much taxpayer money it was spending on its lawsuit against the federal government.

“The district is choosing to spend taxpayer resources fighting the federal government in our court over political and ideological issues far removed from reading, writing, math and classroom excellence,” Adams said. “Please put students before politics. Vote no in placing this $133 million package on the ballot.”

The mill levy override also comes as Jeffco stands to lose an additional $55 million in federal funding. The district is currently engaged in a legal battle with the Trump administration, which has alleged that Jeffco’s policies regarding transgender students violate Title IX.

Namely, the federal government said the district’s policies of allowing accommodations for bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight trips based on gender identity violated Title IX. The federal government also alleged 61 male students were participating on female sports teams across the district.

In response, Jeffco said the 61 students in question were mascots, managers and athletic trainers, not student athletes. The district also said its policies were in line with Colorado law, namely the Anti-Discrimination Act, which largely prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

Jeffco has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education seeking to protect the funding. During Thursday’s meeting, several speakers also expressed support for the district in filing the lawsuit and in support of trans students within the district.