About the Vibrant Denver Bond
General obligation (GO) bond programs are used to fund new public parks, recreation centers, libraries, arts and cultural venues, roads, bridges, police stations, and other public facilities. They are also used to repair and improve existing facilities. Cities across the U.S., including Denver, use bonds to keep pace with public infrastructure needs. GO bonds must be authorized by voters. Local GO Bond programs are authorized by Denver voters every 4-10 years and repaid through property taxes. Denver’s current bond programs are nearly complete, creating capacity for new projects under the Vibrant Denver bond program without adding a new tax.
Vibrant Denver Bond Overview
Guiding Principles
Before evaluating bond project proposals, the bond executive committee established the following principles. These were used by the committee to guide their evaluations.
- Be Ready to Build – Prioritize shovel-ready projects that can begin promptly and deliver timely benefits.
- Meet Community Needs – Address clearly identified needs and deliver broad community value.
- Advance Equity – Help correct historical underinvestment and promote inclusive access to public resources.
- Promote Economic Vitality – Support local jobs, businesses, and long-term economic growth.
- Enhance Well-Being – Contribute to Denver’s health, safety, sustainability, and overall quality of life.
Eligible Projects
GO bonds can be used to fund construction of public infrastructure and facilities. They cannot be used for general city operations, like staffing and services. Eligible projects for the Vibrant Denver Bond were intended to:
- Be ready to construct quickly,
- Be part of a city asset, such a city park, recreation center, street, or library,
- Serve a public purpose, and
- Have an expected useful life of at least 10 years
View Denver's recent bond programs to see examples:
Denver's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Every six years, the city documents the infrastructure needed to meet the needs of communities and a growing city through a Six-Year Capital Improvement Plan (“CIP”) (required by City Charter). The 2025-2030 CIP identifies approximately 250 projects, which includes upkeep of existing infrastructure as well as new projects previously identified by residents in adopted citywide and neighborhood plans. The 2025-2030 CIP was a foundational reference document the city and the public used to help develop the Vibrant Denver Bond project list.
View the 2025-2030 CIP
Project Development and Evaluation
During the Vibrant Denver bond program process, from February through April, Denverites shared general thoughts on the state of infrastructure in their neighborhoods as well as submitted specific project ideas. Starting in April, community-led subcommittees reviewed this public input, as well as city recommendations based on the 2025-2030 CIP, to help create project lists. The project lists recommended by subcommittees went to an executive committee and Denver City Council for final review before the bond program package was referred to voters in November.
Subcommittees included:
- Community ambassadors and leaders
- City Council members
- City subject-matter experts
The Executive Committee included:
- A community leader from each subcommittee
- Mayor's office designees
- the City's Chief Financial Officer
- City Council President
Committee meetings were open to the public to attend. Learn more about the subcommittees.
Impact on Property Taxes
While General Obligation (GO) bonds are funded by property taxes, the 2025 Vibrant Denver bond won’t impose any new taxes. It will extend an existing mill levy that voters have previously authorized for paying back bonds and that can only be used for this purpose. The city plans general obligation (GO) bond programs intentionally every 4-10 years so that as previous bonds are paid down, new bonds can be issued without new taxes—allowing the city to keep pace with infrastructure improvements.
How Bond Funds Can be Used
Bond funds can only be used for specific capital projects and improvements that have been authorized by voters via ballot questions, relevant companion ordinances and bond ordinances that authorize the issuance of debt, in accordance with all applicable legal requirements (including IRS rules and guidelines for tax-exempt debt). Bond funds target capital investments in infrastructure and facilities that satisfy a public purpose. General city operating expenses such as salaries or day-to-day operations are not funded through bond proceeds.
