Ballot Title Setting Board
2017-2018

The title as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows:

An amendment to the Colorado Constitution concerning early childhood through secondary school public education, and, in connection therewith, declaring that every Colorado resident should have an opportunity to receive an adequate early childhood, primary, and secondary education on an equitable basis throughout the state; requiring the legislature to maintain statewide funding for school districts at a percentage of the total personal income of Colorado residents that is at least equivalent to the national average percentage of statewide personal income dedicated to public education; permitting voters to approve an increase in the constitutionally required funding for school districts by a simple majority, rather than 55% majority; permitting the legislature to enact, and school districts to implement, laws without regard to constitutional requirements related to revenue and spending limitations, and property taxation, as necessary to ensure that adequate state and local resources are available to fund public schools; and requiring the legislature to report every five years concerning the goals stated in the amendment.

The ballot title and submission clause as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows:

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution concerning early childhood through secondary school public education, and, in connection therewith, declaring that every Colorado resident should have an opportunity to receive an adequate early childhood, primary, and secondary education on an equitable basis throughout the state; requiring the legislature to maintain statewide funding for school districts at a percentage of the total personal income of Colorado residents that is at least equivalent to the national average percentage of statewide personal income dedicated to public education; permitting voters to approve an increase in the constitutionally required funding for school districts by a simple majority, rather than 55% majority; permitting the legislature to enact, and school districts to implement, laws without regard to constitutional requirements related to revenue and spending limitations, and property taxation, as necessary to ensure that adequate state and local resources are available to fund public schools; and requiring the legislature to report every five years concerning the goals stated in the amendment?

Hearing December 6, 2017

Single subject approved; staff draft amended; titles set.
The Board determined that this proposed initiative does more than repeal a constitutional provision and therefore a fifty-five percent vote is required for approval of the amendment.
Hearing adjourned 2:55 PM.

* Unofficially captioned “Funding for Public Schools” by legislative staff for tracking purposes. This caption is not part of the titles set by the Board.