Jeffco Public Schools Ballot Issue 5A passing by 327 votes and headed for a recount
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. Election officials will recount all of the ballots cast for and against a $73 million tax increase to benefit Jeffco Public Schools after a final tally showed the measure passing by just 327 votes.…
Jeffco Public Schools in Colorado faced a close election outcome for a proposed $73 million tax increase, known as Ballot Issue 5A. The measure narrowly passed by just 327 votes, prompting officials to order a recount. Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder Amanda Gonzalez announced that the recount will be completed by December 4, starting on November 24. This recount comes under state law, which mandates one when the margin between passing and failing is less than half of one percent.
The additional funds raised by the tax increase would go towards teacher pay raises, principal and school support staff salaries, and expanding career and technical education programs for students. About $8.5 million of the money would also benefit Jeffco Public Schools' charter schools as required by state law.
A companion ballot measure, 5B, aimed at raising $60 million for school building maintenance, failed by 7,302 votes. District leaders, interim Superintendent Rob Stein and school board President Michelle Applegate, expressed optimism for the 5A outcome despite it initially appearing to fail during election day and early counting.
The deadline for counting absentee and military ballots, as well as correcting ballot errors, was Nov. 12. After those ballots were counted, the margin flipped in favor of the passing of Ballot Issue 5A.
Written by urgent.news from Chalkbeat's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
