How a Ballot Measure Could Permanently End TABOR Refunds

What We Believe

The legislature’s latest effort to circumvent TABOR comes through a ballot measure appearing before voters in November. Though advertised as a way to increase funding for education, the measure would allow the state to permanently retain and spend revenue collected above the state’s TABOR spending cap, rather than refunding that money back to taxpayers. If approved, the state would be authorized to keep and spend surplus revenue above the cap – up to $5.5. billion – beginning in the next fiscal year.

While voters may support directing additional resources toward education, the measure does not permanently dedicate those funds to education. The statutory nature of the measure and the language itself grants the legislature broad authority to retain and spend revenue indefinitely, leaving future lawmakers with significant discretion over how the funds are allocated among various programs and priorities.

Read the full report to learn more about the dangers of this ballot measure and the impacts it will have on the future of TABOR.

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Elizabeth Caven

Elizabeth serves as the Outreach Director and Policy Analyst at Advance Colorado. She previously worked for the Colorado House of Representatives for nearly three years as a legislative aide, where she assisted in policy work across a range of issue areas for the caucus. Elizabeth earned dual undergraduate degrees in Politics and Philosophy from Colorado Christian University. While at CCU, she served as President of the Philosophy Club, participated in First Liberty’s D.C. Fellowship Program, and worked with the Centennial Institute. She and her husband, Jason, live in Littleton.

At Advance Colorado, we believe in an education system that puts Colorado parents and students first through a system that emphasizes:

At the heart of Colorado’s school system is school choice, in which our state has been a national trailblazer for decades. – a system that has enjoyed deep, bipartisan support.

What We Do

We craft cutting edge policies that empower parents, taxpayers, and teachers and push back on the status quo interests that resist reform.

Our 2024 Policy Agenda includes several important education reform priorities. Read it HERE

This year, we are leading the charge to protect the school choice rights we currently have – rights that are annually under siege from the education establishment groups that want to eliminate your right to choose the best school for your children. We can secure our rights into the future through a school choice amendment to the Colorado Constitution.

Read our policy brief on this important issue HERE.

What You Can Do

We help citizens become advocates and leaders.

Whether you are a concerned parent, grandparent or taxpayer, Advance Colorado can equip you with the knowledge and tools to be an effective advocate for high quality, accountable schools. Learn more about our ambassador program.

And if you are interested in running to become a member of your local school board, you can apply to participate in the Advance Colorado Academy New Leader program. LINK If you are a current school board member, you can enroll in our “You’ve Won, Now What?” program. Learn more about our “You’ve Won, Now What?” program.