Adams 12 Secures $39M Mill Levy, Boosts Teacher Salaries Now!

UPDATE: Adams 12 School District leaders are celebrating a significant victory as a crucial mill levy override, totaling $39 million, has just passed with 53% of voters saying “yes.” This decision will directly impact teacher salaries, expand career and technical education programs, and enhance safety measures, effectively preventing further cuts for the second consecutive year.

The ballot measure, known as Issue 5B, was approved based on unofficial results from Adams and Broomfield counties. This marks a turnaround from a similar proposal that failed in 2024 with a 57% to 43% vote against it. The district previously faced severe challenges, cutting 150 jobs due to a $27.5 million budget shortfall in the current school year.

The last mill levy override in Adams 12 was in 2018, making this approval particularly critical. With the new measure, the district will increase the mill levy by up to 8.795 mills, translating to an additional cost of about $5 a month for homeowners per $100,000 of home value. This funding increase is essential as Adams 12, the sixth largest district in Colorado with around 35,000 students, aims to close the salary gap with neighboring districts that offer more competitive pay to educators.

District leaders have outlined a clear allocation for the funds: approximately $25.2 million will go toward raises for teachers and other staff, while $9.2 million will support program enhancements, including the expansion of Career and Technical Education and the hiring of elementary STEM-focused teachers. Additionally, $1.4 million will bolster school safety by hiring more campus security officers and school-based therapists. The remaining $3.6 million will be allocated to the district’s four charter schools.

Superintendent Chris Gdowski expressed gratitude toward voters, emphasizing the positive impact of this measure amid economic uncertainty. “We’re tremendously grateful to our community for approving this measure,” he stated. “We’re going to use the funds exactly as we said and get a really strong return on our investment. We owe that to our community.”

Looking ahead, Gdowski cautioned that while this new funding is a welcome relief, the district must still brace for challenges related to limited state funding and declining enrollment. He confirmed that although the additional funds won’t elevate Adams 12’s salaries to the top tier among surrounding districts, they will significantly enhance the district’s competitive position.

The district plans to integrate the new funding into next year’s budget, which will include adjustments to salary schedules for educators, principals, and support staff. Gdowski concluded, “There’s a lot of work to do,” underscoring the urgency of implementing these changes effectively.

Stay tuned for further updates as Adams 12 begins to roll out these critical improvements aimed at enhancing educational quality and safety for students and staff alike.