in DCTA News

DCTA Voting Recommendations for the 2020 Election

With the 2020 election being less than a month away, our DCTA Fund committee has affirmed their support for local candidates and ballot measures supportive of public education, students and educators. Our parent organization, the Colorado Education Association has also released their voting recommendations for the 2020 election that support pro-public education candidates and ballot initiatives, which include the DCTA recommended candidates for the 2020 election.

DCTA Recommended Ballot Measures for the 2020 Election

  • 4A and 4B DPS Bond/Mill Levy – Support/ Vote Yes
  • Amendment B (Gallagher Amendment Repeal) – Support/ Vote Yes
  • Proposition 116 – Oppose/Vote Not

4A and 4B Denver Public Schools Bond/Mil Levy (Support/Vote Yes)

  • 4A Voting yes on 4A authorizes Denver Public Schools to levy an additional property tax of $150 per $100,000 in assessed value (1.5 mills) in 2021 and to increase that levy by up to $100 per $100,000 in assessed value (1 mill) every year to a maximum rate of $400 per $100,000 in assessed value (4 mills). This levy will allow the district to direct money toward adding and maintaining mental health professionals and high school counselors, adding and maintaining school nurses, increasing minimum wage for school support staff and adding cost of living funds to pay staff.
  • 4B Voting yes on 4B supports the authorization for DPS to increase their debt by $795 million in bonds with a maximum repayment cost of $1.5 billion. The bond money would be used for the following: purchasing computers for remote learners, upgraded science and computer labs in middle schools, expansion of cameras in schools for safety precautions, the expansion of early childhood learning centers, cooling systems for classrooms without air conditioning and adding more classrooms to schools to help reduce classroom size and overcrowding.

Amendment B: Repeal the Gallagher Amendment (Support/Vote Yes)

This bi-partisan initiative repeals the Gallagher Amendment of 1982 from our constitution. Voting Yes on Amendment B will allow the State Legislature to freeze property tax assessment rates at the current rates (7.15% for residential property and 29% for non-residential property). It will allow the state legislature to provide for future property tax assessment rate decreases through state law while continuing to require voter approval for rate increases. The Colorado Legislative Council Staff said Amendment B is expected to result in more property tax revenue for local governments and therefore reduced state aid requirements for school funding.

Proposition 116 (Oppose/Vote No)

This proposition would Decrease Income Tax Rate from 4.63% to 4.55% for individuals, estates, trusts, and foreign and domestic C corporations operating in Colorado. In result, Proposition 116 would cut funding to schools, health care, housing while providing $90 million to the top 3% of Colorado earners.

DCTA Recommended Candidates for the 2020 Election

  • State Board of Education Lisa Escarcega
  • House District 1 Susan Lontine
  • House District 2 Alec Garnett
  • House District 4 Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
  • House District 5 Alex Valdez
  • House District 6 Steven Woodrow
  • House District 7 Jennifer Bacon
  • House District 8 Leslie Herod
  • House District 9 Emily Sirota
  • State District 31 Chris Hansen
  • State District 33 James Coleman

If you are not registered to vote in Denver, or you would like voting guidance on state-wide ballot measures and candidates, please visit the CEA Voter Guide.