Colorado Voters Decide $4.6 Billion Education Funding Measure

Aspen —The fluorescent lights in the Vail Daily newsroom hum with a low, persistent buzz, a sound that has become the backdrop for a growing anxiety across the state. On the desk, a single sheet of paper rests, marked with the initials of a measure that promises to change the way Colorado pays for its future. It is Proposition NN, and it is coming for your wallet.

In the parking lot outside the state Capitol, a driver checks his phone, staring at a text message from a friend in Denver. The message is simple: “Did you read about the $4.6 billion?” It is a question that hangs in the thin mountain air, heavy with the weight of what is at stake. This is not just a number; it is the difference between a teacher staying in the classroom and one walking out the door.

The measure, born from Senate Bill 26-135, asks voters to let the state keep more money than the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) currently allows. For the next decade, that extra cash would flow into K-12 education, boosting funding by 2% every year. Proponents, like the Yes for Colorado Kids campaign, argue this is the only way to fix a system that has been starved for too long. They point to the work of Colorado Education Association President Kevin Vick, who describes the current state as a crisis of retention. “The level of inadequacy in our funding here in Colorado mainly means that we simply cannot keep educators,” Vick said. He noted that the burden falls on teachers through poor pay and eroded benefits, creating a workload that is “overbearing.”

But not everyone is convinced. Opponents see a different picture. Kristi Burton Brown, executive vice president of the Advance Colorado Institute, argues that the measure strikes at the core of TABOR’s protections. “Our concern with Proposition NN is that this directly attacks the Taxpayer Bill of Rights,” she said. She warned that the state would be permanently taking refunds to the tune of $4.6 billion a year, effectively ending the paper tax refund for many.

The fiscal impact statement from the Colorado Legislative Council Staff backs this up. In fiscal year 2026-27, TABOR refunds would drop by $329.9 million. By 2027-28, that figure jumps to $521 million. For a single filer earning $100,000, that means a refund cut of $28 in 2027 and $68 in 2028. Joint filers would see even steeper reductions, with cuts of $56 and $96 respectively. These are not small changes; they are the kind that make a difference in a household budget.

The debate is not just about money; it is about values. Do you believe the state should prioritize education over immediate refunds? Or do you think the protections of TABOR are worth preserving, even if it means less funding for schools? These are the questions that will define the vote in November.

As the sun sets over the Rockies, casting long shadows across the valley, the reality of the choice becomes clear. The measure is more than a policy decision; it is a reflection of what the community values. Whether it is the stability of a school system or the security of a personal refund, the stakes are high. The answer will be written on the ballot, but the impact will be felt in every classroom and every home.