Do you know what's coming in November?

Colorado voters will be weighing in on school funding.

Here’s something worth knowing about as we look ahead to the fall. This November, Colorado voters will decide on a ballot question that may change how the state funds schools.

But first, some background! Colorado has a rule called TABOR that limits how much tax money the state can keep and spend each year. If the state collects more than that limit, the extra gets refunded to taxpayers.

This fall, voters will decide something specific. Should the state keep some of that extra money instead? It could mean up to $4.6 billion over time that would go toward K-12 schools and kid-focused programs, like preschool and child care. One key point: this would not raise anyone's tax rate. It's only about what happens to money already collected.

While Colorado’s average teacher salary is finally nearing the national median, our state consistently struggles with pay competitiveness when adjusted for our high cost of living. Additionally, teachers are paid significantly lower than their peers with similar educational backgrounds. This gap remains a primary factor in why districts across the state, especially in rural areas, struggle to recruit and retain the high-quality educators our students deserve.

People see this issue differently. Some think it's a smart way to fund schools without raising tax rates. Others say keeping money that would've been refunded is basically a tax increase by another name. Colorado voters have said no to similar ideas before, in 2019 and 2023. So the outcome isn't a sure thing either way.

At CEF, we don't “take sides” on ballot measures. But, we do want our community to stay informed on things that affect local schools since we’re all in this together for the kiddos in Carbondale. 

One thing's for sure: this is one to watch.

Thanks for being a part of our community,

Carbondale Education Foundation