DENVER — Denver voters had several local issues on their ballots this election, including a sales tax increase for Denver Health, a sales tax increase for affordable housing, and a slaughterhouse ban. Here are the results of those three closely-watched contests.
> Election results for all of Denver's ballot measures are available here.
Ballot Issue 2Q: Denver Health Funding
Denver's voters were asked to approve a sales tax increase this November to keep Denver Health afloat. The hospital is struggling with the cost of uncompensated care. The City Council agreed in June to put the tax increase on the ballot.
The latest results are below:
If approved by voters, the 0.34% sales tax increase would bump Denver's sales tax over 9%. Denver Health estimates it would bring in up to $70 million annually.
As a safety net hospital, Denver Health doesn't turn away patients, even if they cannot pay. In 2023, the hospital reported it lost $136 million treating uninsured patients. They estimate about 10% of that cost went to migrant care.
Denver Health said if the tax measure fails, and the hospital can't get more state or federal funding, the hospital would consider cutting services.
Ballot Issue 2R: Affording housing
The measure asks Denver voters to hike the city’s sales tax by 0.5% to generate $100 million that Mayor Mike Johnston said will be used to fund affordable housing projects.
The latest results are below:
Johnston unveiled the proposal in July. The measure had a rough time getting through City Council, with some council members expressing concern about the fast timeline to get it on the ballot. Ultimately, the City Council voted 9-4 to send the proposal to the ballot.
Initiated Ordinance 309: Slaughterhouse ban
The ordinance would ban the construction, maintenance or use of slaughterhouses in Denver. The group Pro-Animal Future is behind the measure.
The latest results are below:
A "YES" vote would shut down the city's only slaughterhouse, the employee-owned Superior Farms lamb processing facility near the Western Stock Show Complex. The ban would put the facility's employees out of work by early 2026, although the ballot initiative specifically calls for them to be prioritized in new workforce training programs.
Opponents, like the Colorado Livestock Association, say the closure would have a devastating impact on local ranchers and the domestic food supply.
For all of the latest election results, head to www.9news.com/elections.