Denver Schools and Teachers Union Push for Tax Hike to Boost Resources

Proposed mill levy would increase property taxes to fund higher teacher pay and more school staff.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:23am

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A repeating grid pattern of brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen images depicting stacks of textbooks, pencils, and other school supplies in a vibrant neon color palette, conceptually representing the need for increased educational resources in Denver's public schools.A bold pop art interpretation of the essential classroom resources Denver teachers are fighting to expand.Denver Today

Denver Public Schools and the Denver Classroom Teachers Association are asking the public for feedback on a proposed mill levy override that would increase property taxes to provide more funding for teacher compensation, additional specialists, and smaller class sizes. The unions say the extra resources are desperately needed to address burnout and unsustainable workloads among educators.

Why it matters

Denver's public schools have struggled with teacher retention and resource constraints for years, leading to high turnover and strained learning environments. This proposed tax increase aims to address those systemic issues by investing directly in teacher pay and student support services.

The details

The mill levy override, if approved by the school board and voters, would raise Denver homeowners' property taxes by around $71 per year, or $6 per month. The additional funds would be used to increase teacher pay by up to 5% as well as hire more specialists and reduce class sizes. Union leaders say these changes are crucial to addressing burnout and unsustainable workloads that have plagued the district.

  • The Denver School Board will hold a public comment session on the proposed mill levy this Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
  • Voters in Denver would need to approve the mill levy override in the November 2026 election.

The players

Denver Public Schools

The public school district serving the city of Denver, Colorado.

Denver Classroom Teachers Association

The labor union representing teachers employed by Denver Public Schools.

Michelle Horwitz

A speech language pathologist with 16 years of experience at Denver Public Schools and a union leader for nearly a decade.

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What they’re saying

“Our schools need more support. Our students need more support, and those things cost money.”

— Michelle Horwitz, Speech Language Pathologist, Denver Public Schools

“Honestly, I'm taking a sabbatical next year because I need a break. The workload is tremendous, and I want to keep doing this, but I need to step back for a minute and gather myself and see if I can continue to go back.”

— Michelle Horwitz, Speech Language Pathologist, Denver Public Schools

“We need more sustainable workloads within schools. A lot of burnout is because we're being asked to do more with less on a regular basis.”

— Michelle Horwitz, Speech Language Pathologist, Denver Public Schools

What’s next

The Denver School Board will hold a public comment session this Wednesday, April 16, 2026, where community members can provide feedback on the proposed mill levy override. If approved by the school board, the measure would then go to Denver voters for final approval in the November 2026 election.

The takeaway

This tax increase proposal represents a collaborative effort by Denver's public schools and teachers union to address longstanding resource constraints and unsustainable workloads that have contributed to high teacher turnover. By investing in higher pay and more student support staff, the district hopes to improve retention and create better learning environments for Denver's students.