Jeffco Public Schools issues 5A and 5B would raise property taxes for the district by $73 million and $60 million a year starting in 2027. The district estimates the pair would cost an Applewood homeowner about $3.50 a month per $100,000 of home value, or about $273 a year on a $650,000 home.
Every Applewood address, from the Golden 80401 lots in Applewood West to the Lakewood 80215 streets of Applewood Knolls and the Wheat Ridge blocks of Applewood Villages and Paramount Heights, sits inside Jefferson County School District R-1. That means two school tax questions are on every Applewood ballot this fall, whether the home is in unincorporated Jefferson County or inside Wheat Ridge city limits.
The two questions are separate. Voters can approve both, reject both, or approve one and not the other. One funds day-to-day operating costs, mostly pay. The other funds building repairs, technology and security, and it is written to grow with inflation after its first full year.
Jason Sirois, a Realtor with FORM at Compass Denver and an Applewood resident, walks through what each measure says, how the district’s cost estimate is built, and how to work out the number for your own home. This post explains the measures. It does not take a position on how to vote.
What is on the ballot
The Jeffco Board of Education approved asking for both measures at its August 20, 2026 meeting, according to the district’s 2026 mill levy override and special mill page. The ballot titles and fiscal notices appear in Jefferson County’s 2026 General Election TABOR notice.
| Issue 5A | Issue 5B | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | General purpose mill levy override | Special purpose mill under the Debt Free Schools Act |
| First-year amount | $73 million in 2026, for collection in 2027 | $60 million in 2026, for collection in 2027 |
| Where the money goes | District general fund | A dedicated capital construction, technology and maintenance fund |
| Main uses named by the district | Compensation for teachers, support professionals, support staff and school leaders; career and technical education | Plumbing, parking lots, roofs, heating, cooling and ventilation, aging infrastructure and technology, secure entries and monitoring |
| Later years | Amounts in later years, up to the limit state law sets for the district | Annually thereafter, and may rise each year with the Consumer Price Index after the first full fiscal year |
| Certified first-year mill levy | 4.7503 mills | 3.9044 mills |
The mill figures come from the district’s certified numbers as reported by the Golden Transcript on September 3, 2026. Neither ballot title sets an end date.
Why the district’s estimate is lower than the two mill levies
The district’s published estimate is a net figure. Together, 5A and 5B add about 8.65 mills. At Colorado’s 7.05% residential assessment rate, that works out to roughly $61 a year for every $100,000 of a home’s actual value before anything else changes.
The district’s lower estimate, about $3.50 a month or $42 a year per $100,000, accounts for the school district’s existing bond levy falling by about 2.5 to 2.8 mills in the same year. The Golden Transcript reported that the bond levy drop happens whether 5A and 5B pass or fail. So the honest way to read the two figures:
- Compared with this year’s bill, the district estimates the school portion would rise by about $42 a year per $100,000 of value if both pass.
- Compared with what the bill would be next year if both fail, the difference is closer to $61 a year per $100,000, because the bond levy drop would happen either way.
- Your actual bill also depends on your county assessed value, other taxing districts on your parcel, and any exemption you qualify for.
What 5A and 5B could cost on a typical Applewood home
Applewood homes span a wide range of values, so the district’s single example of a $650,000 home is only a starting point. The table below applies the two published per-$100,000 rates to a few home values. The $650,000 row is the district’s example; the other rows are the same rates multiplied out.
| Actual home value | District net estimate (about $42 per $100,000 a year) | Both levies before the bond levy drop (about $61 per $100,000 a year) |
|---|---|---|
| $650,000 | About $273 a year ($22.75 a month) | About $397 a year |
| $900,000 | About $378 a year | About $549 a year |
| $1,200,000 | About $504 a year | About $732 a year |
To estimate your own home, take the actual value on your most recent Jefferson County notice of value, divide by 100,000, and multiply by $42 for the district’s net figure or by $61 for the gross figure. Because 5B can grow with inflation and 5A can step up toward the state limit, these are first-year estimates, not a fixed annual cost.
Colorado’s senior and disabled veteran property tax exemption, which exempts half of the first $200,000 of a qualifying owner’s home value, also lowers the figure for owners who qualify. The Jefferson County Assessor’s office handles applications.
What else is on Applewood ballots
School issues 5A and 5B are not the only local questions. Which others appear depends on whether the address is inside a city and which fire and special districts serve it. Jefferson County’s On the Ballot page lists all of them. A few that show up on some Applewood-area ballots:
- Wheat Ridge Issue 2A, a one-cent city sales and use tax, appears only for addresses inside Wheat Ridge city limits, which includes Applewood Villages and Paramount Heights. We covered it in what the Wheat Ridge 1-cent sales tax would pay for.
- West Metro Fire Protection District Issue 7C, a 0.75% sales tax, appears for addresses inside that district.
- Statewide measures, including Amendment 87 on income tax and Proposition NN, appear on every ballot.
The fastest way to see exactly what applies to a home is to check the sample ballot for that address.
What this means if you are buying or selling in Applewood
A school tax measure changes the property tax line on a listing, and buyers often ask about it. Here is what to keep in mind this fall:
- Property taxes on Colorado homes are paid a year in arrears, so a 2026 vote affects taxes collected in 2027.
- The tax figure on a current listing reflects the most recent bill, not one that includes 5A or 5B. A lender’s escrow estimate may need updating after the election.
- School assignments do not change with these measures. For which schools serve which Applewood streets, see whether Applewood West goes to Golden or Wheat Ridge High School and our Applewood Knolls schools post.
For neighborhood-level context on homes and pricing, the Applewood community page is a good starting point, and Jason Sirois and the FORM Team at Compass Denver are happy to walk through a specific property’s tax picture.
Key dates for the November 3 election
Jefferson County mailed ballots starting October 5, according to the county elections page. The county lists October 26 as the last recommended day to return a ballot by mail. After that, use a drop box or voting center. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Jeffco school issues 5A and 5B apply to unincorporated Applewood?
Yes. All of Applewood is inside Jefferson County School District R-1, so 5A and 5B appear on ballots in unincorporated Applewood and in the Applewood-area neighborhoods inside Wheat Ridge.
How much would 5A and 5B cost on a $650,000 Applewood home?
The district estimates about $22.75 a month, or about $273 a year, for both measures combined. That estimate is net of a scheduled drop in the district’s bond levy. Before that drop, the two levies come to about $397 a year on the same home.
What is the difference between 5A and 5B?
5A is a $73 million general purpose override that goes to the district’s general fund, mostly for pay and career and technical education. 5B is a $60 million special purpose mill for buildings, technology and security, held in a separate fund.
Do 5A and 5B ever expire?
Neither ballot title sets an end date. 5B may increase each year with inflation after its first full fiscal year, and 5A allows later-year amounts up to the limit state law sets.
When would the new tax show up on my property tax bill?
If the measures pass, they apply to 2026 taxes, which Colorado homeowners pay in 2027.
Is 5B a bond?
No. 5B is a special purpose mill levy under the state’s Debt Free Schools Act, so it raises money each year rather than borrowing against future taxes.
This article is for general information only and summarizes the ballot titles and district estimates published as of October 2026. It is not tax, legal or voting advice. Your actual property tax depends on your assessed value, your taxing districts and any exemption you qualify for; confirm with the Jefferson County Assessor and your own sample ballot.
