Prop NN - A Statewide Initiative
This November, Colorado voters decide Proposition NN, a statewide measure that lets the state invest more in K-12 education without raising taxes. A 1992 limit called TABOR (the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights) caps state revenue and refunds anything above it to taxpayers instead of funding priorities like schools. Prop NN raises that cap for education only, freeing up existing revenue for smaller class sizes, competitive educator pay, and stronger career and technical education. Paired with Summit's local Mill Levy Override (4A), it's a two-part solution: 4A strengthens our schools next year, and Prop NN strengthens funding statewide for the decade ahead.
TABOR is a 1992 amendment to the Colorado Constitution limiting how much revenue the state can keep each year, tied to inflation and population growth. Anything collected above that limit must be refunded to taxpayers — even when needs like school funding have grown faster. Voters must approve any change to how that revenue is used, which is what Prop NN asks them to do, for education only.
What Is TABOR?
How Prop NN Supports Education Long-Term
Prop NN raises the TABOR cap for K-12 education, letting the state keep revenue it already collects instead of refunding it. That money is dedicated to recruiting and retaining quality educators, reducing class sizes, and expanding career and technical pathways, with an independent public audit every year. Because it's tied to the state budget rather than a one-time fix, funding builds year over year — an estimated 30% increase for districts like Summit by the end of the decade — giving schools a more stable foundation well beyond this election.