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Our call — vote NO
The measure
This is the ballot's only legislatively referred measure, a statute. It raises the TABOR revenue limit by the amount the state spends on public K-12 education, allowing the state to keep and spend revenue that would otherwise be refunded to taxpayers. Retained revenue must be spent on K-12 education, programs that support children, and any other purposes, per the Blue Book summary.
What YES does
A YES vote raises the TABOR cap permanently by the K-12 spending amount and lets the state retain surplus revenue up to the new limit.
What NO does
A NO vote maintains current TABOR refunds and current funding processes for K-12 education and other state purposes.
The math
Legislative Council Staff estimate the measure reduces taxpayer refunds by $329.9 million in budget year 2026-27 and $521.0 million in 2027-28, eliminating TABOR refunds in both years. In the first year the new limit sits $4.6 billion above the current limit, and the state expects to keep about $500 million of that headroom.
OUR CALL
Our call: NO.
TABOR's refund is not a loophole; it is the deal Colorado voters made in 1992 — government keeps what it needs up to the limit, and the surplus goes back. This measure raises the limit by a $4.6 billion formula, wipes out refunds in both forecast years, and lets retained money flow to 'any other purposes' beyond the education label on the tin. If K-12 needs more, appropriate it inside the cap. NO.
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Vote early. Research your candidates. Choose the best moderates, whatever their party — no extremism from either side. And encourage your friends and family to do the same.
Sources
- Ballotpedia, List of Colorado ballot measures — https://ballotpedia.org/List_of_Colorado_ballot_measures
- Colorado 2026 State Ballot Information Booklet (Blue Book), Legislative Council Staff, as reproduced in the Colorado 2026 ballot measures guide — https://whipplewood.com/insights/colorado-2026-ballot-measures-guide/
Result pending. No verified call (Associated Press or official) as of November 4, 2026. This page will be updated when the race is called or certified. The original article above is unchanged.
AI-assisted article — but the sources are human, and the facts are very real.