Colorado School Budget, Amendment 39 (2006)

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Contents

Amendment 39 appeared on the November 2006 ballot in Colorado as a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment, where it was defeated.

  • Yes: 569,483 (38%)
  • No: 944,735 (62%) Defeated

Ballot title

The official ballot title read:

An amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning a requirement that in each state fiscal year a school district spend at least 65% of its operational expenditures on classroom instruction, with limited exceptions.

Supporters

Groups working in support of the amendment included First Class Education, First Class Education Colorado, and I Am Voting Yes On Amendment 39.

Supporters argued that Amendment 39 would increase funding for classroom instruction without having to raise taxes. It would also require school districts to focus their resources on educating students and to be more efficient with other spending. As a result, more money could be available for teaching professionals. Studies indicated that spending in the classroom could increase by as much as $278 million.

Amendment 39, supporters pointed out, would establishes a constitutional standard for school district spending. School boards in each district will decide how to meet the requirement, which may result in new spending priorities.[1]

Opponents

Groups opposing Amendment 39 included Coloradans For Excellent Schools, Communities For Quality Education Colorado Ballot Fund, the Bell Ballot Action, and People For The American Way Voters Alliance of Colorado.

Opponents said that Amendment 39 failed to account for the important differences among the 178 school districts in Colorado and would not necessarily improve student achievement.

They argued that school districts not meeting the new requirement might have to divert money from support functions and positions that help teachers to teach and students to learn. Nurses, guidance counselors, and principals are essential to a well-run school but would not count toward the 65% spending requirement. Other important expenditures would also not be part of the 65% portion.[1]

Campaign finance

Donors for the campaign for the measure:[2]

  • First Class Education: $25,000
  • I Am Voting Yes on Amendment 39: $22,000
  • Total: $47,000

Donors for the campaign against the measure:

  • Coloradans for Excellent Schools: $1,006,680
  • Communities for Quality Education Colorado Ballot Fund: $312,666
  • Bell Ballot Action: $5,000
  • People for the American Way Voters Alliance of Co: $100
  • Total: $1,324,446
  • Overall Total: $1,371,446

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 2006 Colorado Blue Book
  2. ↑ Follow the Money, "Donors"
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