Proponents of more education funding often portray opponents
as those who don’t care about our children’s future.
My husband passed away in 2016, and I have presented three
personal scholarships in his memory to deserving Summit High School students.
It’s an honor to give, and it goes
directly to the student’s college.
One of the issues I have with Proposition CC is trust.
Unlike my scholarship, I don’t trust
additional monies will be used as promised.
Since our Taxpayer Bill of Rights in 1992, our population
has grown by 60% yet our state budget has increased over 300%. Ten years ago,
our budget was $19 billion and is now $32 billion.
TABOR requires tax increase voter approval, and our state
has gotten around that by passing fees.
The 2009 Hospital Provider Fee gives $600 million more per
year for roads and schools. FASTER fees provide $250 million more per year.
In 2005, Referendum C gave the state $2.1 billion more for
education, health care and transportation.
Proposition CC is a statute, not a constitutional amendment.
The next legislature can use the money wherever.
I believe in quality education and that more money doesn’t guarantee
better results. One-third of Colorado high school graduates who go on to
college have to take remedial classes in core subjects. College preparedness
results in English, science and math are less than 40%. It isn’t about more
money; it’s about standards and accountability.
There is a problem with allocation. We need to lock money
into areas and prioritize. Since 1990, our education budget is up 20%, but
teachers pay is down 20%.
Gov. Jared Polis said TABOR would require a tax refund of
$1.7 billion in the near future. That is a substantial tax return to
Coloradans.
Please vote no.