With the Board of Education providing direction on the district’s 2026 Mill Levy Override (MLO), Summit School District is sharing clear, factual information so staff, families, and community members have a common understanding of the proposal.
 

Our goal is to make sure people have accurate information about what is being proposed, what the funding would support, the estimated cost to taxpayers, and how the measure relates to the district’s broader financial and Master Plan work. As a public school district, SSD’s role is to inform, not to advocate for or against the ballot measure.

After months of financial planning, staff collaboration, Master Plan work, and community engagement, the Board has directed the district to move forward with an approximately $5.9 million annual Mill Levy Override (MLO) for the November 2026 ballot. An MLO is different from a bond: while a bond generally funds buildings and major capital projects, an MLO provides ongoing funding for district operations and programs. The proposed funding reflects priorities identified through the district’s planning and community engagement process: retaining high-quality teachers and staff, expanding college and career pathways through career-connected learning, and providing targeted academic supports to support student success.

The information below is intended to give staff and community members a consistent factual foundation for understanding the proposal and responding to questions. 

What would the MLO fund?

If approved by voters, approximately $5.9 million annually would support four priorities that reflect a central principle of the district’s planning work: strong student outcomes depend on strong educators, effective academic support, and meaningful opportunities for students.

Teacher + Staff Retention $4.5 million

The majority of the proposed funding would support competitive compensation to help Summit School District recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff.

Career Connected Learning (CTE)  $400K

Support field experiences, staffing, and age-appropriate career-connected learning from elementary and middle school through high school, with expanded Career and Technical Education opportunities as students progress towards career and college pathways.

Academic Outcomes + Student Resources $1.0 million

Funding would support approximately eight additional positions, with one focused on teacher support and seven focused on strengthening academic outcomes in areas such as reading, math, special education, and school improvement priorities. Positions would be allocated to schools based on identified student needs and Unified Improvement Plan goals, supporting academic success for all students while providing targeted support to help close achievement gaps.
 

Funding would also provide educators with additional tools and resources to strengthen instruction and support student success in the classroom.

What would it cost?

The current estimated annual property tax impact is approximately:

Home with $500,000 actual value: $54.50 per year, or about $4.50 per month

Home with $1 million actual value: $109 per year, or about $9 per month

These estimates are based on actual home value and are provided to help community members understand the approximate financial impact of the measure.

What will voters see on the ballot?

The Board-approved ballot language asks voters whether Summit School District may collect approximately $5.9 million annually through a Mill Levy Override to support the priorities described above.

SHALL SUMMIT SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-1 TAXES BE INCREASED $5.9 MILLION FOR TAX COLLECTION YEAR 2027 AND IN SUCH AMOUNTS AS MAY BE COLLECTED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER; WITH FUNDS TO BE USED FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS:

ATTRACTING AND RETAINING HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS AND STAFF THROUGH COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS;

STRENGTHENING PK-12 PROGRAMS AND INCREASING STUDENTS’ OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE CREDITS, CAREER AND TECHNICAL INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS, AND HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES ALIGNED TO WORKFORCE AND POSTSECONDARY PATHWAYS;

STRENGTHENING ACADEMIC OUTCOMES AND REDUCING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS;

FROM THE IMPOSITION OF A MILL LEVY IMPOSED AT A RATE, WHEN COMBINED WITH PRIOR VOTER APPROVED MILL LEVY OVERRIDE QUESTIONS, WILL GENERATE REVENUES UP TO THE LIMIT ESTABLISHED FOR THE DISTRICT BY SECTION 22-54-108(3)(B)(VI), C.R.S.; SUCH ADDITIONAL REVENUES TO BE DEPOSITED IN THE GENERAL FUND AND USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AS PROVIDED HEREIN AND AS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE DISTRICT VOTERS PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-54-108(V), C.R.S.; AND SHALL THE REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES AND ANY EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH REVENUES BE COLLECTED AND SPENT AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION AND ANY OTHER LAW?

The ballot language is published exactly as approved so staff, families, and community members can see precisely what voters will be asked to consider in November. The Mill Levy Override will appear on the November ballot as Ballot Issue 4A as designated through the election process and confirmed by Summit County Elections.

Accountability matters

If the measure is approved, the district is committed to transparency about how these dollars are used.

MLO revenue will be incorporated into the District's financial tracking and reporting systems and reviewed during the District's Annual Independent Financial Audit. Results will be made available through the District's existing public reporting channels, allowing the community to see how funds are invested. 

How does this relate to the Facilities Master Plan?

The MLO and the district’s 10-Year Facilities Master Plan are both part of the district’s long-term planning, but they address different needs.  The Master Plan is about facilities; the MLO is about people and programs.

What happens next?

With the measure placed on the November ballot, Summit County voters will decide whether to approve Ballot Issue 4A.

Supporters say the additional funding would help the district attract and retain staff, expand student opportunities, and strengthen academic support. Opponents raise concerns about the affordability of additional property taxes, whether the district should operate within existing resources, and the appropriate role of state versus local funding for public schools.

Citizens for Strong Summit Schools, an independent community organization, is conducting campaign activity related to Ballot Issue 4A. That organization is separate from Summit School District. District staff and district resources may not be used to advocate for or against the measure. Staff may participate in campaign activities as private citizens on their own time and without using district resources.

SSD will continue to focus its communications on providing factual information about the ballot measure and its impact. Visit https://www.summitk12.org/facilities/mlo for more info.

 Dr. Tony Byrd
 Superintendent, SSD