ballot issues 2013 league of women voters of colorado education fund

BALLOT ISSUES2013

League of Women Votersof Colorado

Education Fund

Definitions

•Referendum A proposal by the state legislature which is referred to citizens for a vote

•Initiative A proposal by citizens who have gathered the required number of signatures

Definitions• Amendment to Constitution A proposal by 2/3 of the state legislature or by citizen initiative which will go into the Colorado Constitution. Only voters can change the amendment, not the legislature.

• Proposition to change Revised Statutes

A proposal by a majority of the legislature or by citizen initiative which will change the law. The legislature can change it.

Proposition AATaxes on marijuana and marijuana products

• Initiated Amendment to Colorado Revised Statutes

• Imposes a sales tax of 10% on all purchases of retail marijuana and retail marijuana products effective 1/1/2014


• Allows the General Assembly to decrease or increase the sales tax up to 15%

• Cities and towns where the sales tax was collected will receive 15% of the gross

• Allows cities and towns to impose their own sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products


• Imposes an excise tax of 15% on the average wholesale price of cultivated marijuana

• Allows the General Assembly to decrease or increase the excise tax rate with maximum of 15%

Proposition AATaxes on marijuana and marijuana property

• The first $40 million from the excise tax will be transferred to the Public School Capital Construction Fund

• Eliminates need for a vote of the people on any future tax change relating to marijuana

Proposition AATaxes on Marijuana and marijuana products

• Exempts medical marijuana from the sales tax and the excise tax

• Only counties that allow the sale of marijuana will receive benefits from the proposed sales tax


• Cities and counties have the right to regulate and license marijuana businesses. Local rules are in addition to state regulations

• If this proposition does not pass, the state will be required to take necessary funds for enforcement of marijuana regulations from the general fund

Amendment 66Funding for Public Schools

• Initiated Amendment to Constitution

• Changes to Revised Statutes

• Repeals the requirement that per pupil funding P-12 grow by at least the rate of inflation


• Requires a minimum of 43% of state sales tax, excise tax and income tax now at 4.63% rate to be used for public education

• Changes Colorado Revised Statutes by increasing:

income up to $75,000 taxed at 5%income over $75,000 taxed at 5.9%


• This measure would not increase corporate, sales or property taxes

• This measure would increase income taxes by about $950 million a year


• This measure is the funding mechanism for Education Reform Bill passed last year. If it fails, the changes will not take effect

• Currently per pupil funding is adjusted for factors in the school district: number of students, number of lower-income students and cost of living in the community. Since 2000, the average share of state tax revenue spent on P-12 education was 46%. Last fiscal year the amount was 40%.

EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

EARLY VOTING OCTOBER 21 - NOVEMBER 4

MAIL YOUR BALLOT OR DELIVER IT BY

TUESDAYNOVEMBER 5thAT 7:00 PM

ballot issues 2013 league of women voters of colorado education fund

Documents