Colorado Voters to Lock TABOR Refunds into Expanded K-12 Funding

Colorado voters will decide in November whether to allow the state to keep TABOR refunds and raise the cap to match the maximum annual K-12 spending, starting with a 2% increase in K-12 funding (about $107 million in year one) and directing the rest of any surplus to other kids’ programs; at least half of each year's TABOR surplus would go to K-12, with full implementation expected to take about a decade, and the measure does not require governor approval to appear on the ballot. Supporters say it would boost teacher pay and reduce turnover; opponents worry about expanding government beyond the cap.