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Amendments 60, 61 and Proposition 101

Submitted by Annie Skinner on June 18, 2010 - 8:03am

The Campaign Opposing Amendments 60, 61 and Proposition 101 continues to educate Coloradans about the damage these ballot initiatives will cause if passed. As part of that education and outreach, the campaign is compiling important data about the potential statewide impact of 60, 61 and 101.

The data so far reveals the three initiatives have the potential to:

  • Kill 70,000 Colorado jobs - Seventy thousand jobs will be lost in our sputtering economy, pushing Colorado deeper into recession. More than half the job losses will come from private businesses, the rest from critical public service functions in state and local government. That’s why the Denver Post warns these proposals “might be tempting for some voters. But they would be devastating for Colorado.”
  • Cut 21,000 teachers, close schools and increase classroom size - As many as 21,000 teachers will get pink slips driving up class sizes everywhere. Nowhere will the damage from these ill-conceived proposals be greater than in our schools. The chief financial officer of D-11 in Colorado Springs said, “We don’t have a way to make payroll.” And the Boulder Daily Camera points out, “The truth is that K-12 education funding will be decimated and schools will have nowhere to turn.”
     
  • Hurt small businesses statewide - Small businesses will be hammered. Our small businesses are the job creation engine that drives Colorado’s economy. Many of these companies will not survive if we drive Colorado’s economy deeper into recession by passing these proposals. Those that survive will be even smaller.
     
  • Prop 101 - Will reduce the State income by $1.2 billion (current-year equivalent)
     
  • Prop 101 - Will nearly eliminate the specific ownership tax on vehicles and will cut $500 million out of local school and other revenue.
     
  • Prop 101 – Will reduce vehicle registration fees and eliminate $375 million out of state and local road and bridge funds.
     
  • Amendment 60 - Will mean a 50 % reduction in school district mill levies and requires enterprises and authorities to pay property taxes; repeals local property tax “de-Brucings”; limits future property tax increases to 10 years.
     
  • Amendment 61 - Will prohibits all levels and divisions of state government from bonding, lease-purchase, revenue anticipation etc., even if they now have the authority to do so. Local governments will only be able to borrow after voter approval and must pay back within ten years the full amount.
     
  • Amendment 61 - Will change local government borrowing limits to a fraction of the currently allowed maximums.
     
  • Amendment 61 - Will require a devastating tax cut equivalent to the average annual repayment of any loan that is paid off.

These are just some of the frightening, but true facts about the threat these ballot initiatives pose to Colorado. SDA is actively working with the Campaign, www.DontHurtColoroado.com to oppose these issues. Districts were sent an impact analysis which to fill out and return to SDA, which would evaluate the direct effect of these issues on your district. If you have not filled out the evaluation and plan to, please send it in as soon as possible. The responses can be sent to SDA Executive Director Ann Terry at ann.terry@sdaco.org. If you have any questions regarding these issues, please contact the SDA office at (303) 863-1733.

PLEASE VISIT THE CAMPAIGN WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION AT: http://www.donthurtcolorado.com