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LWVCO 2021 Ballot Issues Pro/Con Statements 

Amendment 78: Legislative Authority for Spending State Money
Placed on the ballot by citizen initiative • Passes with 55 percent of the vote

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution and a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning money that the state receives, and, in connection therewith, requiring all money received by the state, including money provided to the state for a particular purpose, known as custodial money, to be subject to appropriation by the general assembly after a public hearing; repealing the authority to disburse money from the state treasury by any other means; requiring all custodial money to be deposited into the newly created custodial funds transparency fund and the earnings on those deposits to be transferred to the general fund; and allowing the state to retain and spend all custodial money and earnings and revenue on that custodial money as a voter-approved revenue change?
YES A “yes” vote on Amendment 78 requires that all state spending be allocated by the state legislature and that custodial money be deposited in and spent from a new fund.

NO A “no” vote on Amendment 78 allows state agencies to continue spending custodial money and certain other money without appropriation by the state legislature.

Proposition 119: Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress Program
Placed on the ballot by citizen initiative • Passes with a majority vote

Shall state taxes be increased $137,600,000 annually on retail marijuana sales by a change to the colorado revised statutes concerning the creation of a program to provide out‑of‑school learning opportunities for colorado children aged 5 to 17, and, in connection therewith, creating an independent state agency to administer the program for out-of-school learning opportunities chosen by parents; funding the program by increasing the retail marijuana sales tax by 5% by 2024 and reallocating a portion of the public school lands income; authorizing transfers and revenue for program funding as a voter‑approved revenue change; specifying that learning opportunities include tutoring and extra instruction in subjects including reading, math, science, writing, music, and art, targeted support for children with special needs and learning disabilities, career and technical education training, and other academic or enrichment opportunities; and prioritizing program financial aid for low-income students?

YES A “yes” vote on Proposition 119 funds financial aid for tutoring and other out-of-school enrichment and instruction through an increase in retail marijuana taxes and transfers from existing state funds.
NO A “no” vote on Proposition 119 means the program will not be created and funded
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Proposition 120: Property Tax Assessment Rate Reduction
Placed on the ballot by citizen initiative • Passes with a majority vote

Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning property tax reductions, and, in connection therewith, reducing property tax revenue by an estimated $1.03 billion in 2023 and by comparable amounts thereafter by reducing the residential property tax assessment rate from 7.15% to 6.5% and reducing the property tax assessment rate for all other property, excluding producing mines and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas, from 29% to 26.4% and allowing the state to annually retain and spend up to $25 million of excess state revenue, if any, for state fiscal years 2022-23 through 2026-27 as a voter-approved revenue change to offset lost revenue resulting from the property tax rate reductions and to reimburse local governments for revenue lost due to the homestead exemptions for qualifying seniors and disabled veterans? IMPORTANT NOTE: The description of Proposition 120 in this voter information guide differs from the language in the ballot question because a law that changed the effect of the measure was passed by the state legislature after the ballot question was written

YES A “yes” vote on Proposition 120 lowers property tax assessment rates for multifamily housing and lodging properties. It does not impact assessment rates for other types of residential and nonresidential property.
NO A “no” vote on Proposition 120 retains the assessment rates for lodging and multifamily housing properties that are in current law