Walk into any coffee shop on Colfax and you'll hear the same thing: Denver is getting expensive. Like, "can't-afford-to-breathe" expensive. So when the November 2024 election rolled around, everyone expected a massive fight over the wallet. And man, did we get one. Between a push to tax our way out of the housing crisis and a weirdly intense battle over lamb chops and fur coats, the Denver ballot measures 2024 weren't just about policy. They were about what kind of city we actually want to be.
Honestly, the results were a mixed bag that left some people cheering and others staring at their bank accounts in mild horror. We said yes to some things and a very firm "no thanks" to others.
The Safety Net Won, But Housing Lost
The biggest shocker for many was the split on taxes. We’ve all seen the headlines about Denver Health being in trouble. They were facing a massive $155 million gap in uncompensated care. Basically, they were treating everyone but not getting paid for a lot of it.
Voters stepped up. Ballot Issue 2Q passed with about 57% of the vote. It adds a 0.34% sales tax, which sounds tiny—like 3 cents on a ten-dollar lunch—but it’s going to pump roughly $70 million a year into the hospital. It’s a lifeline for trauma care and mental health services that were honestly on the brink of falling apart.
But then there was Ballot Issue 2R. This was Mayor Mike Johnston’s big swing at the affordable housing crisis. He wanted a 0.5% sales tax hike to raise $100 million annually. The goal? Build 44,000 units over a decade.
It failed. Barely.
It lost by a fraction of a percent—about 50.7% to 49.3%. Why? Because even in a city that desperately needs housing, people are tapped out. Adding nearly a full percent to the sales tax (if both had passed) was just a bridge too far for a lot of folks who are already struggling to pay rent. You can’t tax people into affordability if the tax itself makes their groceries more expensive.
The Animal Rights "Vibe Check"
If you lived in Denver leading up to the election, you couldn’t escape the "Hands Off My Hat" signs. The animal rights group Pro-Animal Future managed to get two massive initiatives on the ballot: Ordinance 308 (the fur ban) and Ordinance 309 (the slaughterhouse ban).
The slaughterhouse ban was the one that really got people fired up. It targeted Superior Farms in Globeville, the largest lamb processing plant in the country. Proponents called it a moral necessity. Opponents called it an attack on 160 minority-owned, union jobs.
Denver chose the jobs.
- Ordinance 309 was crushed, with about 65% of voters saying no.
- Ordinance 308, the fur ban, also went down with about 58% against it.
It turns out Denver still has a bit of that "Cowtown" DNA left. Even the most progressive voters in Cap Hill seemed hesitant to put a century-old business out of work over a ballot measure. It was a clear signal that while animal welfare matters, it doesn't trump local industry and livelihoods in the eyes of the majority.
The Boring Stuff That Actually Matters
We also had a bunch of "charter amendments." These are the things that sound like legal jargon but actually change how the city breathes.
Referred Question 2U passed, giving about 7,000 city employees the right to bargain collectively. If you work for the library or the water department, your life just changed. Then there was Question 2T, which removed the requirement that police and firefighters must be U.S. citizens. Now, as long as you have legal work authorization (like a green card or DACA), you can suit up. In a city struggling with police staffing, this was a pragmatic win.
Oh, and let’s talk about the money we didn't technically lose. Ballot Issue 6A passed, letting the Regional Transportation District (RTD) keep the tax revenue it already collects. Usually, because of a Colorado law called TABOR, the government has to give money back if they collect "too much." Voters said, "Keep it. Fix the trains."
What This Means For Your Wallet Right Now
Since Denver ballot measures 2024 are now settled law, here is the reality on the ground:
- Sales Tax is Up: Starting in 2025, you’ll see the Denver sales tax rate hit 9.15%. That’s thanks to the Denver Health measure.
- Schools are Building: Denver Public Schools got the green light for a $1.9 billion bond. Your property taxes won't technically "increase" because they are just extending an old tax, but it means that tax isn't going away anytime soon. Expect to see a lot of construction at local elementary schools.
- Downtown Revitalization: A $847 million bond for downtown also passed. If you go to 16th Street Mall and see even more orange cones, now you know why.
The 2024 election showed a Denver that is compassionate toward its safety net but deeply skeptical of open-ended tax hikes for social engineering. We're a city that wants better transit and better hospitals, but we aren't quite ready to ban the industries that helped build the place.
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If you're looking to get involved before the next cycle, keep an eye on the City Council's Land Use meetings. Now that the 0.5% housing tax failed, the city is going to have to find other ways to incentivize developers, which usually means rezoning fights in your neighborhood. Stay loud, stay informed, and maybe keep an eye on your receipts next time you're at Cherry Creek Mall.
Actionable Insights for Denver Residents:
- Check your receipts: Ensure you understand the new 9.15% sales tax rate applied to non-essential goods.
- Monitor DPS Projects: If you have kids in the district, check the DPS bond website to see when your specific school is scheduled for HVAC or security upgrades.
- Watch for New Housing Proposals: Since the tax-funded housing plan failed, expect a surge in "inclusionary zoning" discussions at City Hall as the Mayor looks for Plan B.