2026 Colorado voter guide: What to know about Proposition NN

Colorado voters will decide on Proposition NN on Nov. 3, a ballot measure that proposes reallocating tax refunds to fund education. If passed, taxpayers would forego their annual TABOR refunds to enable the state to retain up to $4.6 billion in tax dollars, with the intention of using this money to increase education funding annually by 2% for the next ten years. Afterward, lawmakers could allocate the remaining funds as they see fit, though it must be spent on education or other state programs or services.

The proposal comes as Colorado faces a dire funding outlook, with projections indicating the state could face a budget gap of over $1 billion for the third consecutive year. Rising costs in Medicaid and demands for increased education spending are cited as key factors driving the need for additional funding.

Opponents of Proposition NN argue that it constitutes a permanent change to the state's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR), potentially restricting future tax refunds to taxpayers. Critics also claim that Colorado already collects sufficient tax revenue and that the state's leaders should pursue more fiscally responsible methods of funding education, such as cutting or limiting spending in other areas.

Proponents of the measure, on the other hand, contend that the funding provided by Proposition NN is crucial for supporting Colorado's educational system. They argue that the measure is more likely to succeed than previous attempts at school funding because recent polls indicate that Coloradans support increasing education spending. The Colorado Education Association and the Colorado Association of School Boards are among the prominent organizations supporting the ballot measure.