1-minute voter guide: $950M Vibrant Denver bond (2A–2E)
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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. Photo: RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
The issue dominating Denver's November ballot comes in the form of five questions from Mayor Mike Johnston asking voters to OK a $950 million Vibrant Denver bond package to fund nearly 60 infrastructure projects citywide — all promised within six years.
Why it matters: If passed, it would be the largest municipal bond in Denver history and could reshape the city in ways that will far outlive the Johnston administration.
How it works: The bond wouldn't raise taxes. Instead, the city would borrow money and repay it with existing property tax revenues over time — with interest pushing total costs close to $2 billion, according to city figures.
The big picture: The Johnston administration projects the bond would create 7,000 jobs and generate nearly $2 billion in economic impact.
- Supporters, including former Denver mayors Michael Hancock, Wellington Webb and Federico Peña, say the investments are critical to the city's success.
Zoom in: Voters will decide on five separate measures, Ballot Issues 2A–2E.
- 2A — $441 million for transportation and mobility upgrades, including a combined $139 million to fix the West 6th and 8th Avenue viaducts near the proposed Denver Broncos stadium site.
- 2B — $175 million for parks and recreation, including $70 million to transform the former Park Hill Golf Course into a public park.
- 2C — $30 million for a new Denver Health family clinic and expanded Denver Children's Advocacy Center.
- 2D — $244 million for public facilities, including $75 million for a new police, fire and sheriff training center and $20 million each to build a new American Indian Cultural Embassy and upgrades to Boettcher Concert Hall.
- 2E — $59 million for affordable housing and city shelter improvements.
The other side: Opponents, including the group Citizens for No New Debt and the Denver GOP, argue the city shouldn't pile on more long-term debt that will ultimately cost taxpayers more.
Go deeper: Mapped: How Denver's $950M bond would reshape the city, block by block