Survey: Majority of voters think district is underfunded

A March 2025 survey shows an increasing number of voters in Adams 12 Five Star Schools believe the district doesn’t have the financial resources needed to provide students with a quality education.

The district conducted the survey to learn more about why voters either supported or rejected Ballot Issue 5D, a $34.5 million mill levy override that would have invested in attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers through competitive compensation, expanding career and technical education programs for students at all levels, and providing opportunities for students to develop life skills and have access to mental health support. Voters rejected Ballot Issue 5D in the November 2024 election. In March, the district announced approximately $27.5 million in budget cuts.

Some of the key findings from this post-election survey include:

• Yes voters expressed the belief that education underpins a healthy community and economy. 
• The most common objection to the proposal was tax sensitivity, and a large number mentioned that they still support education but just couldn’t afford additional tax increases.
• Most people believed that the educational needs outlined in Ballot Issue 5D are the right priorities that should receive funding.
• When it was shared that Adams 12 Five Star Schools ranks 14 out of 15 Denver metro school districts in per student funding from local voter-approved overrides, 55 percent of respondents indicated that the district doesn’t have the financial resources needed to provide students with a quality education.

Results from the survey will help inform district decisions around a future mill levy override proposal. Magellan Strategies conducted the survey on behalf of the district from Feb. 26-March 10, 2025. The overall survey responses have a margin of error of +/- 3.1% at the 95% confidence interval. 

Read a summary presentation of the full results.