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2026 Mill Levy Override
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Statement

The Board of Education voted to add a Mill Levy Override (MLO) for up to $5.6 million to the November 2026 ballot to support:

  • Increasing teacher and staff pay;
  • Retaining and recruiting high-quality teachers and staff; and
  • Strengthening academic outcomes and eliminating achievement gaps.

Based on current enrollment projections, RFSD anticipates the MLO will generate $5M annually. The estimated tax impact is approximately $17.18 per year ($1.43 per month) per $100,000 of actual home value, or about $85.88 per year ($7.15 per month) for a home valued at $500,000.

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Arguments

Arguments For

  • The State of Colorado changed how it funds high-cost districts like ours, reducing the amount of money we receive. RFSD has a limited opportunity to ask local voters to replace that lost funding through a Mill Levy Override.
  • Educators cannot afford to live where they work. RFSD has the 4th highest cost of living but only ranks 16th in average teacher pay across all Colorado school districts
  • Offering competitive salaries allows us to attract top talent, improve teacher retention, and ensure long-term stability for our students.
  • Investing in teacher and staff salaries supports our strategic plan, including strengthening student outcomes

Arguments Against

  • RFSD voters approved a mill levy in 2021
  • A mill levy override will raise property taxes.
  • Wages have been stagnant for many people in our community, not just teachers.
  • The mill levy alone won’t solve the state school funding problem.
MLO

FAQ's

    What is an MLO?
    • A voter-approved property tax for operational needs not covered by the state.
    Why can RFSD pursue this MLO?
    • New cost-of-living changes at the state level reduce funding for districts like RFSD. The state is allowing a temporary window before 2030 for impacted districts to increase their MLO capacity to offset this loss.
    $5M MLO estimated cost
    • Approximately $17.18/year ($1.43/month) per $100K, or about $85.88/year ($7.15/month) for $500K in "actual home value."
    Allocation of MLO funds
    • 80% for teacher and staff salaries and benefits, 10% for recruitment and retention initiatives, and 10% for the required district charter share. No funds would be used for senior district leadership salaries.
    To learn more about the exploratory process

Important Links

Roaring Fork Schools

+1 970 384 6005

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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Colorado law, the Roaring Fork Schools does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to, treatment, or employment in educational programs or activities which it operates. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees and others. Section 504 Coordinator is: Special Education Director Patrick McGinty; 970-384-5992; pmcginty@rfschools.com Inquiries concerning Title VI or Title IX may be referred to: Aimee Brockman. Chief of Human Resources and Talent 400 Sopris Ave Carbondale, CO 81623 abrockman@rfschools.com Roaring Fork Schools is committed to providing equitable access to our services to all of our constituents. Our ongoing accessibility effort works towards being in line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA criteria. These guidelines not only help make technology accessible to users with sensory, cognitive and mobility disabilities, but ultimately to all users, regardless of ability. We welcome comments on how to improve our technology’s accessibility for users with disabilities and for requests for accommodations to our services. Feedback and support: We welcome your feedback about the accessibility of our online services to let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers. We are committed to responding within 3 business days. Phone: 970-384-6000 E-mail: acole@rfschools.com.
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