Bond and Mill Levy Overrides
Our Bond and Mill Levy Override page highlights both current and past initiatives, providing a clear view of how bond and MLO funding have supported our schools over time. Information on previous efforts can be found by scrolling to the bottom of the page.
📌 What is a Bond?
A bond is a voter-approved way for a school district to borrow money to pay for big building projects like constructing or renovating schools, upgrading safety and security systems, and improving learning spaces. The district repays bonds over time using property tax revenue approved by voters.
📌 What is a Mill Levy Override (MLO)?
A mill levy override is a voter-approved increase in property taxes that provides additional money for operating expenses, such as teacher salaries, instructional materials, technology, and preserving school days that would otherwise be cut due to state funding shortfalls. Unlike a bond, an MLO cannot be used for construction projects.
District 51 Bond & Mill Levy Override Dates
2017 — Bond & Mill Levy Override (Measures 3A & 3B)
On this date, Mesa County voters approved both a mill levy override and a bond measure.
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Measure 3A was the MLO that provided ongoing funds for operational needs.
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Measure 3B was the bond that funded facilities improvements and major maintenance.
2021 — Bond Measure for New Grand Junction High School
In November 2021, voters said YES! on GJHS and approved a bond measure to finance the rebuilding of Grand Junction High School.
2024 — Bond and Mill Levy Override
In 2024, the community again said YES to District 51, passing both a bond and renewing a mill levy override that was about to sunset. This bond provides funding for facilities needs across the district without increasing the tax rate, and the MLO continues local support for schools’ operational priorities.
2024 Bond and Mill Levy Override
In 2024, our community showed its support for public education by saying YES to District 51 and passing both a Bond and a Mill Levy Override. That vote is already making a difference for students, staff, and schools across our district.
This page is your place to learn what those measures mean, how the funding is being used, and what’s coming next. Below, you can explore Bond projects by school, see how Mill Levy Override dollars support students and staff, and follow the progress of the work made possible by our community’s commitment to strong schools and a strong future for District 51.
ABOUT THE 2024 Bond
In 2024, our community approved a Bond to address essential safety and security upgrades across District 51 schools. This funding supports meaningful improvements to learning environments, including renovations for special education spaces and major upgrades at Central High School and Fruita Monument High School.
No Tax Increase if Passed This Year
Because the 2004 bond debt was paid off in December 2024, our annual debt payments were reduced from $21 million to $18 million. This reduction made it possible to issue $190 million in new bonds without increasing the current bond mill levy rate.
Priority 1 & 2 Repairs and Maintenance
District 51 maintains more than 3 million square feet of school buildings. The Long Range Facility Master Plan identified approximately $582 million in Priority 1 and 2 repair needs across our schools. These include critical upgrades such as roof replacements, HVAC systems, and other core infrastructure that many schools will need over the next 10 years.
ABOUT THE 2024 Mill
In 2024, our community approved the Mill Levy Override, giving District 51 a way to locally support schools after years of state funding shortfalls. Since 2009, the State of Colorado has withheld close to $250 million from D51. The Mill Levy Override helps make up part of that gap with dollars that stay right here in Mesa County.
Retain Student Contact Days
Mill Levy Override funding helps protect the school days students depend on. It supports keeping classrooms open, maintaining strong instructional programs, updating curriculum, and funding in-school technology support. Because of this local support, District 51 can continue providing consistent, high-quality learning experiences even when state funding falls short.
Responsible and Balanced Use of Funds
District 51 is committed to using these funds carefully and transparently. Mill Levy dollars help increase competitive staff salaries while staying fiscally responsible and planning for the future. This includes increases to average teacher and counselor salaries and a return to a step-and-lane salary structure, all achieved without raising taxes.
Bond Dollars at Work: Investing in safe, strong learning spaces
District 51’s voter-approved $190M bond is funding upgrades at schools across the district, including Priority Improvement Projects,
Central High School improvements, and Fruita Monument High School improvements.
District 51 schools are the heart of our community—and many of our buildings need critical upgrades to stay safe, functional, and ready for today’s learning. Thanks to our community’s support, voters approved a $190 million bond to address key facility needs across the district.
This bond work includes three major parts: improvements at Central High School, improvements at Fruita Monument High School, and Priority Improvement Projects (PIPs) across additional D51 schools. PIPs are being completed in four phases (one each summer)
to reduce disruption and keep schools running smoothly during the year.
Bond scope at a glance:
- Total bond: $190M
- Includes: Central HS improvements, Fruita Monument HS improvements, and Priority Improvement Projects (PIPs)
- PIPs timeline: Four summer phases
Budget snapshot (Phase One PIPs):
- Phase One Budget: $28.8M
- Hard Costs Committed: $19.3M
- Soft Costs Committed: $3.8M
- Costs to Date (through June): $10.4M
2024 Bond/Mill Levy Q&A
- What is a bond?
- Why does D51 need bonds?
- Why not use state funding?
- What projects have been completed in D51 with past bonds?
- What are the current capital needs?
- What is the proposed 2024 bond initiative?
- Why is November 2024 the only window for a "no tax increase" bond?
- What are the main benefits of the 2024 bond?
- What is a mill levy override (MLO)?
- Why are MLOs necessary?
- How long do MLO's last?
- What happens if the 2017 MLO sunsets?