You’ve probably seen the signs. They pop up every election cycle like clockwork, dotting the medians from Highlands Ranch down to Castle Rock. Usually, they’re bright, aggressive, and leave you wondering if your property tax bill is about to do a backflip. Specifically, Ballot Issue 5A Douglas County has been the talk of the town recently, but if you’re like most of my neighbors, the "fine print" feels like it was written in another language.
Basically, the 2024 version of 5A was a massive $490 million bond request.
It wasn't a tax hike. Not technically. That’s where the confusion starts. People hear "$490 million" and instinctively clutch their wallets. But the Douglas County School District (DCSD) pitched this as a way to "refinance" existing debt—sort of like when you refi your mortgage to get a better rate or pull some equity out without changing your monthly payment.
Why Ballot Issue 5A Douglas County keeps coming up
The thing about Douglas County is that we are growing. Fast. If you’ve driven through RidgeGate or Sterling Ranch lately, you’ve seen the dirt moving. New houses mean new kids, and new kids mean we need more desks.
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Last year, in 2023, voters actually approved a different 5A—a Mill Levy Override (MLO). That one was specifically for teacher pay. It was a big win for the district because, honestly, our teachers were getting paid way less than the folks in Cherry Creek or Littleton. But the 2024 Ballot Issue 5A was a different beast entirely. It was about the "bricks and mortar."
What the money is actually for
The district didn't just want a slush fund. They had a very specific shopping list:
- Two new elementary schools: One for the RidgeGate area in Lone Tree and another for Sterling Ranch.
- Expansion at Sierra Middle School: Because that place is bursting at the seams.
- The Legacy Campus: Finishing up "Phase 2" of that CTE (Career and Technical Education) hub.
- Safety and Security: Updating cameras and door locks across the board.
The logic here is pretty simple: if we don't build these schools now, the overcrowding in existing buildings gets worse. We're talking trailers in the parking lot and staggered schedules. Nobody wants that.
The "No New Tax" Magic Trick
The district’s biggest hurdle was explaining how they could spend $490 million without raising the tax rate. It sounds like a scam, right?
Here’s the deal. DCSD has old debt from bonds passed decades ago. Those bonds are finally getting paid off. Usually, when debt is paid off, your taxes go down. But 5A asked voters to "keep the change." Instead of letting the tax rate drop, the district asked to issue new debt at the same rate.
If it passed, your tax bill stayed the same. If it failed, your tax bill would have technically dropped a tiny bit (about 2 mills). For a $500,000 home, that’s roughly the price of a couple of pizzas a month.
The Tension in the Room
Not everyone was on board. You had groups like the Douglas County Republicans and various taxpayer advocacy groups pointing out that "no new tax" is a bit of a marketing spin. Their argument? If the old debt is gone, the taxpayers deserve the relief.
"In an era of massive inflation, every penny counts," was a sentiment I heard at a lot of coffee shops.
There's also the Highlands Ranch factor. While the south end of the county is exploding with growth, some schools in Highlands Ranch are actually seeing fewer students. It’s a weird paradox. Why build new schools when some older ones are half-empty? Superintendent Erin Kane has been pretty blunt about this—you can’t just bus a thousand kids from Sterling Ranch to Highlands Ranch every morning. It’s not sustainable.
Comparing 2023 and 2024
It's easy to get these two years mixed up.
In 2023, the focus was on people. The 5A that passed then was about competitive salaries. It was about making sure our best teachers didn't hop over the border to Arapahoe County for a $15,000 raise.
In 2024, 5A was about buildings. It was the hardware to the 2023 software.
What Really Happened With the Results
When the dust settled on the November 2024 election, the community sent a clear message. Unlike previous years where school funding measures went down in flames, the 2024 Bond (Issue 5A) actually found a path to victory.
People finally seemed to buy into the "maintenance" argument. It's much cheaper to fix a roof on a school in 2024 than to wait until 2028 when the leaks have destroyed the gym floor.
What this means for your property value
There is a direct link between school quality and home prices. Real estate brokers in Parker and Castle Rock will tell you that the first thing buyers ask about is the school rating. Even if you don't have kids, a failing school district is a anchor on your home's equity.
Actionable Next Steps for DougCo Residents
Now that the bond has passed, the work starts. You shouldn't just vote and walk away. Here is how you can stay involved and make sure that $490 million is spent the way it was promised:
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- Watch the Mill Bond Oversight Committee (MBOC): This is a group of citizens, not politicians, who watch every dollar. They meet regularly, and their reports are public. If you’re worried about transparency, this is your watchdog.
- Check the Maintenance Schedule: DCSD publishes a list of which schools are getting HVAC upgrades and roof repairs. Check to see when your neighborhood school is on the list.
- Visit the Legacy Campus: If you haven't seen what they're doing with Career and Technical Education, go look. They are training kids for high-paying jobs in aviation, nursing, and tech right here in the county.
- Stay Loud on "Growth and Decline": The district is still figuring out what to do with under-enrolled schools in Highlands Ranch. If you live there, get to the town halls. The bond money helps, but it doesn't solve the "empty building" problem.
The saga of Ballot Issue 5A Douglas County is really a story about a community trying to find its balance. We want low taxes, but we want world-class schools. We want growth, but we hate the traffic. This bond wasn't a magic wand, but it’s the path the county chose to keep the lights on and the classrooms cool.
Keep an eye on the construction at RidgeGate and Sterling Ranch. That’s your tax dollars (or rather, your "refinanced" debt) at work.