Colorado’s economy is one of the best – if not the best – in the country. But despite record corporate profits and tourism revenue, one out of four roads are in poor condition and hundreds of bridges have been labeled “structurally deficient.” And, we’re ranked one of the worst states in education funding.
In 2000, voters recognized our disparate funding in education and approved Amendment 23, which worked to close the gap of school funding by guaranteeing growth for the first 10 years and then setting growth based on inflation on an annual basis.
Unfortunately, the funding at the state level has prevented this growth and resulted in IOUs to the districts, referred to as the budget stabilization factor. This has caused a loss in revenue of $3-5 million a year for Durango School District 9-R since 2010 that was originally promised by voters in 2000.
While the Durango community has been generous in approving mill levy override funding to allow 9-R to address much of this shortfall, many other communities still operate at minimal funding levels which have led to teacher shortages, poor performance and reductions in programming for students.
How could a state with a first-rate economy struggle with some of the most unsafe roads and bridges and underfunded schools?
It started almost 30 years ago when voters narrowly approved what were – and still are – the most restrictive state spending limits in the country.
When our economy shrinks, like other states, we reduce spending. But unlike other states, when our economy rebounds, the funds we already have cannot be invested in basic needs, but are delivered in the form of small rebates to individual Coloradans.
Almost every business, academic and public sector leader will tell you: forcing the state to uphold this antiquated law and refund money to individuals over an arbitrary limit may be good politics, but it’s awful policy.
To be clear, the policy does not affect refunds for taxes that are overpaid. These are rebates from the state that only happen during boom years (the last rebate occurred in 2004-2005), and they are projected to average between $27-$44 per person next year.
As an education leader, I hear from a lot of people in the Durango area, and understand the impact of this amount of money varies greatly from family to family.
Proposition CC is asking voters to pool these funds next year to the tune of $264 million for the state, and likely more in years to follow.
With one vote we can untangle an outdated budget rule and invest the money the state already collects equally among three specific areas: transportation, K-12 education and higher education.
If we can allow the state to invest the money it already collects, with no new taxes, we can improve the long-term health of the state.
Our K-12 schools would receive millions of dollars to attract and retain quality teachers and expand learning opportunities. It would also help Fort Lewis College keep tuition in check.
Nobody’s taxes will go up under Prop CC. These are taxes that have already been paid.
Unprecedented transparency and safeguards are written into the law, with specific, accountable numbers audited by a third-party, traced down to the dollar.
Prop CC does what leaders have been asking for decades: to act within TABOR and our constitution, using funds the state already collects.
Coloradans will still vote on every single tax proposal.
This ballot measure won’t fix all of our education inequities and certainly won’t deal with all of our road and bridge issues, but it’s a big step forward.
And it’s exactly what many leaders have been asking for decades: to act within the limits of our constitution and invest in our needs with the money we already have.
Together, we can start fixing things. Together, with no new taxes, we can invest in Colorado’s growing future!
Vote Yes on Prop CC.
Dan Snowberger is the superintendent of Durango School District 9-R.
