This bill requires the secretary of state to place a question on the November 2026 ballot asking voters to approve the state retaining and spending more revenue for K-12 public education, specifically an amount equal to what exceeds the state’s spending limit, and to increase K-12 funding by up to 2% annually for ten years. So, this continues to fund the dismal performance of our schools. Based on 2024 data, the Common Sense Institute noted that over half of Colorado’s third graders are unable to read, write, or perform basic math at grade level. But if the increased money available is not spent on education, the Legislature can spend it any way it wishes. This legislation proposes this voter referendum for the purpose of bypassing TABOR (Colorado’s Taxpayers Bill of Rights) limits and allowing the state to keep our TABOR refunds from money that the state over collected in taxes from us.
