Weld Re-8 Pathways/Mill Levy Overview

Weld RE-8 School District
2026 Mill Levy Override

Weld Re-8 School District has placed a mill levy override (MLO) measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

All funds would stay local. None of the funds would go back to Denver.

Proceeds from the MLO would be used to:
- Maintain competitive salaries and wages for teachers, teachers' aides, bus drivers, custodians and other support staff.
- Hire additional educators to improve and expand programming, including Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings.

Weld Re-8's starting teacher salary is currently $6,500 to $17,000 less than many neighboring districts. This gap contributes to a 23% teacher turnover rate, higher than the 17% statewide average. MLO funding is intended to help reduce turnover.

Proceeds from the proposed MLO would help strengthen existing CTE offerings, including Business, Construction, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, Agriculture, and Information Technology/Cybersecurity.

The MLO would also enable the district to add new career pathways that align with student interest and workforce needs, like healthcare.

If approved by voters, the MLO would provide $4,900,000 annually in new funding and extend $2,675,000 of voter-approved funding that is scheduled to expire.

Based on the current assessed valuation, the oil and gas industry would pay more than half of the taxes associated with the MLO.

The estimated net tax impact of the MLO for various home values is as follows:

Actual Home Value	Estimated Monthly Tax Impact	Estimated Annual Tax Impact
$300,000	$6.83	$82
$400,000	$9.08	$109
$500,000	$11.42	$137

Without additional funding, Weld Re-8 School District is likely to continue facing staffing challenges, higher teacher turnover, and limited opportunities to enhance and expand CTE and other programming.

Bond Proposal Will Not Appear on November 2026 Ballot

A bond measure to address improvements will not appear on November 2026 ballot. At this time, the District is prioritizing efforts to reduce teacher and staff turnover and enhance programming

Ballot Question

The following question will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot for eligible voters in Weld County School District Re-8:

SHALL WELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. RE-8 TAXES BE INCREASED UP TO $4,900,000 ANNUALLY AND SHALL $2,675,000 OF EXISTING TAXES WHICH ARE SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE BE EXTENDED TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS OPERATION NEEDS INCLUDING

MAINTAINING COPETITIVE SALARIES AND WAGES FOR DISTRICT TEACHERS, TEACHER'S AIDES, BUS DRIVERS, CUSTODIANS, AND OTHER SUPPORT STAFF; AND

HIRING ADDITIONAL EDUCATORS TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION OFFERINGS;

BY AUTHORIZING A VARIABLE MILL LEVY OVERRIDE ANNUALLY LEVIED AT RATES SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE THE FIXED AMOUNTS SPECIFIED ABOVE, TO BE IN ADDITION TO THE TAXES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE LEVIED FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND TO CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE?

Arguments in Favor

The MLO would support competitive teacher and staff salaries, helping reduce turnover and its disruptions to student learning.

The MLO would expand Career and Technical Education and other academic programs, providing students with stronger pathways to in-demand careers.

Maintaining quality schools helps attract families, professionals, and businesses to our communities, while also protecting property values.

Arguments Against

Why has Weld Re-8 School District placed a mill levy override on the November 3, 2026 ballot?

How does the current proposal compare to the proposals voters did not approve in 2024?

Following the 2024 election, the District refined its approach, and is now pursuing:

A more targeted MLO that extends existing MLO funding and includes:

$4.9 million in new revenue

Extension of existing MLO funds

The MLO funding focuses on the District’s highest-priority need—strengthening teacher recruitment and retention. It would help provide more competitive salaries and wages for teachers and staff, to reduce teacher turnover, which is currently much higher than many neighboring districts and the state average. The additional funding would also allow the District to hire instructors for career pathway programs.

The 2026 proposal does not include a bond referendum.

PROPOSED MILL LEVY OVERRIDE (MLO)

Why is the District considering a mill levy override (MLO)?

Weld Re-8 is seeking additional funding to address its highest-priority operating needs, including:

Helping close the teacher and staff pay gap with neighboring districts to improve recruitment and retention.
Strengthening existing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, including Business, Construction, Culinary, and Early Childhood Education.
Adding new career pathways, including potentially Agriculture, Healthcare, and other sectors.

How does Weld Re-8’s teacher pay compare to other districts?

How would the MLO affect teacher recruitment and retention?

Would the MLO help strengthen the District’s CTE programming?

What is the total amount of the proposed MLO?

What percentage of the tax impact associated with the proposed MLO would be paid by the oil and gas industry?

What is the estimated net tax impact of the proposed MLO?

Following is the estimated tax impact of the proposed new $4.9 million MLO based on actual home values:

Estimated Net Tax Impact of the Proposed MLO
	Estimated Monthly	Estimated Annual
Actual Home Value	Tax Impact	Tax Impact
$300,000	$6.83	$82
$400,000	$9.08	$109
$500,000	$11.42	$137

For homeowners who qualify and apply for the Homestead Property Tax Exemption, the tax impact would be lower. The tax impact estimates are based on the current total assessed valuation and an assessment rate of 7.05%. **These estimates are preliminary and subject to change.

What happens if voters do not approve these measures?

BACKGROUND

What communities does Weld Re-8 serve?

How many students does the District serve?

QUESTIONS & FEEDBACK