Adams 12 board hears $39.42 million mill levy override proposal to bolster safety, staffing and CTE programs

Adams 12 Five Star Schools officials on Aug. 20 outlined a proposed $39.42 million mill levy override intended to address staffing shortages, increase safety and expand career and technical education across the district. The board scheduled formal consideration of whether to place the question on the November ballot at a special meeting next week.

Superintendent Gudowski and district presenters told trustees that the district cut $27.5 million from its budget last year, eliminating about 150 jobs, and that gaps remain: "We had to cut 27 and a half million last year. It was painful. It was difficult," a presenter said during the overview. Staff said Adams 12 now sits near the bottom among 15 nearby districts in local per‑pupil override revenue and that local shortfalls amount to roughly a $50 million disadvantage in available revenue.

The proposal groups investments into three primary areas. The safety and mental‑health bucket would increase post‑trained security liaisons and school‑based therapists, triple certain elementary safety staffing ratios and add a third night security position to improve campus coverage. On staffing, presenters said teacher and school‑leader salaries lag peer districts and that recruiting is difficult: "We have 30 unfilled teaching positions in Adams 12," a finance official reported. The programming bucket would fund staff and materials to bring bond‑funded CTE and STEM spaces to life and expand early, age‑appropriate STEM exposure in elementary schools.

District staff delivered the fiscal detail: the total MLO request is $39.42 million, which the presentation estimated would cost an owner of an average home (assessed at $661,000 in December 2024) about $34 a month. Staff also said the package includes roughly $3.6 million allocated for charter partners within the district and that some charter distribution details remain under discussion.

Polling consultant Joe Ferdani presented recent survey results from Magellan Strategies showing a modest net increase in voter support compared with last year: an "uninformed" ballot test returned 55% yes, and after providing context about budget cuts and staffing the support figure rose to about 56%. Ferdani said the poll (941 likely odd‑year voters; margin of error ±3.2%) also showed heightened support when respondents learned the district had cut $27.5 million and 150 jobs.

Public comment Wednesday was split. Several residents urged the board to place the mill levy on the ballot to maintain programming and competitive pay: "Let's make sure that we vote yes for our future, yes for our kids, and vote yes on this initiative," said Ike Anyonwu, a board candidate and parent. Other speakers raised concerns about family engagement, classroom priorities and district policies that they said should be clarified or revised.

Board members did not vote on the override on Aug. 20. Staff asked trustees to place formal consideration on next week’s special meeting agenda and trustees confirmed they would. If placed on the ballot and approved by voters, staff said the district would collect the revenue the following spring and begin implementing hires and program restorations in subsequent fiscal years.

What's next: The board will consider a resolution next week to place the mill levy override on the Nov. 4 ballot; if approved, the district plans further outreach and to publish more detailed budget‑line staffing counts and program allocations before voters decide.