Denver’s devoted gross sales taxes have raised $1.1 billion for preschool, parks and extra. Right here’s a breakdown.

Denver citizens authorized town’s first devoted gross sales tax in 2006 via supporting the introduction of the Denver Preschool Program via the slimmest of margins — simply 1,815 votes, or a fragment of a p.c.

However just about twenty years later, specialised taxes that put aside a slice of town’s total fee for a particular function have turn into fashionable amongst Denver citizens. Electorate later prolonged the preschool tax and larger it, from 0.12% to 0.15%, and in 2023 they voted a 3rd time — this time with 78% fortify — to make it an everlasting fixture within the municipal code.

Denver citizens have handed six different devoted gross sales tax measures since 2018, going for a variety of methods and projects, and with some originating outdoor town corridor. Mixed, town’s seven devoted taxes account for 1.31% of town’s efficient 8.81% gross sales tax fee, which additionally contains state and regional taxes.

That 1.31% provides about 13 cents on a $10 acquire.

Here’s a breakdown of what every tax does and what sort of town has amassed, as of the tip of 2023.

Denver Preschool Program

First authorized: 2006

Price: 0.15%

Collections via 2023: $306.3 million

Projected 2024 income: $31.4 million

What does it do? The tax raises cash to offer Denver households with tuition credit to ship their 4-year-old youngsters to preschools. Since Colorado carried out common preschool final yr, Denver’s program has used its investment to complement tuition and prolong lecture room time. It’s additionally prolonged fortify to households of a few 3-year-olds who’ve upper wishes.

Parks Legacy Fund

Authorized: 2018

Price: 0.25%

Collections via 2023: $213.5 million

Projected 2024 income: $51.9 million

What it does: The tax added a devoted investment flow for long-term making plans and growth of town’s parks, trails and open house networks. Denver Parks and Game officers say their center of attention spaces come with making a extra equitable distribution of parks all the way through town.

Prosperity Denver (previously the School Affordability Fund)

Authorized: 2018

Price: 0.08%

Collections via 2023: $66.9 million

Projected 2024 income: $16.1 million

What it does: The tax supplies investment for methods occupied with expanding enrollment in faculty and different post-secondary instructional choices for Denver scholars. Spouse organizations can obtain reimbursements of up 75% for scholarships they award.

Wholesome Meals for Denver’s Children

Authorized: 2018

Price: 0.08%

Collections via 2023: $69.3 million

Projected 2024 income: $17.2 million

What it does: The tax finances a grant program for nonprofit teams, college districts (together with Denver Public Faculties) and native executive companies that supply wholesome meals and food-based schooling for youngsters within the town. Award choices are made via a 13-member committee that incorporates two contributors of the Town Council, nonprofit leaders and group volunteers.

Taking care of Denver

Authorized: 2018

Price: 0.25%

Collections via 2023: $209.2 million

Projected 2024 income: $50.5 million

What it does: This tax supplies investment to fortify a variety of public and nonprofit methods and services and products occupied with Denverites’ psychological well being wishes. Town’s 2024 finances e book lists eligible services and products together with suicide prevention, substance use remedy, prevention methods that provide possible choices to prison, and housing and case control geared toward decreasing homelessness. The Being concerned For Denver Basis awards grants.

Local weather Coverage Fund

Authorized: 2020

Price: 0.25%

Collections via 2023: $138.6 million

Projected 2024 income: $51.8 million

What it does: The tax supplies cash for methods geared toward mitigating the reasons of weather alternate, in step with Denver’s Local weather Motion, Sustainability and Resiliency place of business, the nascent department of town executive funded in the course of the tax. Allowable makes use of come with team of workers coaching for inexperienced jobs, increasing get right of entry to to solar power and renewable power generation, and supporting climate-friendly transportation alternatives. A well-liked program supplies e-bike rebates to citizens.