What Kind Of Colorado Do You Want?

3 Proposals on 2010 Ballot Prop 101: Significantly reduces local and state support for public services, in particular transportation and K-12 education A60: Overturns prior local elections, cuts local support for schools, charges new taxes on many public services A61: Restricts common-sense investment in our infrastructure and ability to manage finances

Sold as tax relief, but really these are job killing, recession extending and class-size expanding measures State will lose $2.1 billion annually AND will need to make up $1.6 billion in lost local revenue for K-12 Local governments will lose $3.8 billion per year when the measures are fully in place Total fiscal impact on state and local governments would be $6.3 billion 70,000 direct job losses; 8,000 teacher job losses Amendment 61 will lead to $2.06 billion in lost public financing at the state and local level And that’s just the beginning

Impact of the 3 Proposals on Schools Public K-12 schools will lose $1.6 billion in local funding as a result of slashed property taxes 8,000 teacher jobs cut = larger class sizes All other essential state services will be cut by 99% if the state replaces lost local funds State officials have validated a district-by-district analysis of K-12 impacts across the state—we will see cuts of percent from per pupil funding from local sources. More information at

If pass…fiscal chaos By law, K-12 should consume 99% of the state general fund—it would be “anarchy” according to Representative Carole Murray

FY General Fund Appropriations Total $7.4 Billion (Legislative Council) Big 6 Education 43% Judicial 5% Higher Education 9% Human Services 9% Corrections 9% Health Care Policy 21% Other 4%

Colorado is already behind the average by $1,919 in the most recent study* (2010) $1,919*2010 Education Week Quality Counts

Includes several major changes in property-tax policy including: – Enacts a 50 percent reduction in school district mill levies with a required State backfill—an approximate $1.2 billion current-year equivalent – Requires enterprises and authorities to pay property taxes – Repeals local property tax “de-Brucings”—taking away local voter decisions about tax issues – Limits future property tax increases to 10 years – Amends the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) portion of the Colorado Constitution

Prohibits all levels and divisions of government from bonding, lease- purchase, revenue anticipation, etc., even if they have the authority to do so now Exceptions limit local voter-approved borrowing to a maximum 10 years State of Colorado borrowing is prohibited Changes local borrowing limits to a fraction of the currently allowed maximums Additionally, requires a tax cut equivalent to the average annual repayment of any loan that is paid off Will have a serious fiscal impact on the State of Colorado and many local agencies For example, when TRANS bonds are paid off, CDOT will then lose $168 million of gas tax revenue used to repay those bonds Amends the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) portion of the Colorado Constitution

Reduces several revenue streams including: – Eventual reductions in the Colorado state income tax rate to 3.5 percent from the current 4.63 percent— – approximate $1.2 billion current-year equivalent – Elimination of the specific ownership tax on vehicles— approximate $500 million cut to local schools – and other local revenue – Reduction of vehicle registration fees to $10—about a $375 million cut to state and local road and – bridge funds – Additionally, 101 may trigger a loss of about $535 million in Federal Medicaid payments to Colorado – Amends the Colorado Revised Statutes—not the Colorado Constitution

What can you do? Get informed about the issues – – Work on your own personal time to share your perspectives with friends, neighbors, community groups and others Activate your social networks Make a contribution

Questions?