2024 Bond and Mill Initiatives

District 51 continues to see positive trends in student academic growth, performance, and overall well-being, thanks in large part to the continued
support of our community. The ability to update curriculum, provide students with more instructional days, and increase teacher salaries
has contributed to these improvements, all of which have been made possible through previous Mill Levy Overrides. As a result, our
students are benefiting from enhanced learning opportunities and a more supportive educational environment.

This November, we will introduce two new initiatives—a Bond and Mill Levy Override—that aim to continue this upward trajectory by supporting educational quality, improving safety, and ensuring the financial stability of our schools without increasing taxes.

Multiple sticky notes that have District 51's accomplishments written on them for the 2023-24 school year

ABOUT THE 2024 Bond

The proposed bond will enable us to address essential safety and security upgrades across all D51 schools. We will make significant improvements to learning environments, including renovations for special education and major improvements at Central High School (CHS) and Fruita Monument High School (FMHS).

No Tax Increase if Passed This Year

With the 2004 bond debt being paid off on December 1, 2024, we will see our annual debt payments reduced from $21 million to $18 million. This reduction allows us to issue an additional $190 million in bonds without increasing the current bond mill levy override.

Priority 1 & 2 Repairs and Maintenance

D51 has over 3 million square feet of building space to maintain. The recent Long Range Facility Master Plan has identified an estimated $582 million in needs to address Priority 1 & 2 repairs at all schools. These needs include basic additions like roof and HVAC replacements that will be needed by many of our schools in the next 10 years.

Informational Video

Watch the informational video below featuring District 51 Superintendent Dr. Brian Hill, who explains the bond and mill levy override and their potential impacts across our district.

ABOUT THE 2024 Mill

Since 2009, the State of Colorado has withheld close to $250 million from D51 schools. Extending the Mill Levy Override is essential to maintaining student contact days, updating curriculum and supporting technology positions. This measure is crucial for the continuity and quality of education our children deserve. It’s up to our local community to support our schools with dollars that will stay here in Mesa County.

Retain Student Contact Days

Maintaining student contact days is essential for providing consistent, high-quality education to our children. By supporting the D51 Mill Levy Override, we can ensure that our schools have the necessary funding to keep classrooms open, provide updated curriculum and support in-school technology positions. Extending the Mill Levy Override will help bridge the gap left by state funding shortfalls, allowing us to continue delivering the education our students deserve without interruptions. Your support is crucial in maintaining a stable and enriching learning environment for all students in our community.

Responsible and Balanced Use of Funds

We are committed to the responsible and effective use of resources. Our financial strategy focuses on increasing competitive staff salaries while being fiscally responsible and planning for the future. This year, the average teacher and counselor salary increased, and we returned to a step and lane salary structure all achieved without asking for a tax increase.

Bond Dollars at Work: How Will Schools Benefit?

Click on the links below to see how each school in our district would benefit from the potential bond dollars. Explore the improvements and projects that could enhance the learning environments at each location!