Proposition NN: State Public K-12 Education Funding

Colorado · legislative referral (statute) · on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The ballot wording and the arguments for and against from the state’s official voter guide, in the state’s own words, each read the same way for rhetorical techniques. We don’t recommend a vote.

On the ballot

no rhetorical technique found

Shall state investment in K-12 public education increase two percent each year for the next ten years, with investments used to increase teacher pay, improve teacher retention, lower class sizes, and increase access to career and technical courses, without raising taxes but instead funded by raising the annual limit on state fiscal year spending only by the amount spent on public K-12 education as a voter-approved revenue change, and requiring an annual publicly released, independent audit to show how the new investments are spent?

From coloradosos.gov. Checked 2026-10-20. Confirm with your official ballot (sample-ballot lookup).

Argument for

By Colorado Legislative Council Staff (State Ballot Information Booklet)

no rhetorical technique found

1) Proposition NN raises teacher pay, reduces class sizes, and improves career and technical education, benefitting every school district in the state. A state study found that Colorado’s schools face a funding shortfall of $3.5 billion, or about $4,000 per pupil.

Proposition NN redirects money the state already collects to Colorado’s kids and classrooms, keeping experienced teachers in the classroom and expanding course options and support. The measure pairs the investment schools need with the accountability taxpayers deserve.

2) Proposition NN frees up funds that should already be supporting Colorado’s children. The price of educating and caring for a child grows year after year, and the current revenue limit does not keep pace. As a result, the state is falling behind on the services that families depend on most. Permanent relief from this limit is long overdue.

Proposition NN uses existing revenue to address the real and rising costs of child care, universal preschool, and other early childhood needs.

From content.leg.colorado.gov, the official voter guide.

Argument against

By Colorado Legislative Council Staff (State Ballot Information Booklet)

no rhetorical technique found

1) Proposition NN is essentially a tax increase, permanently eliminating or reducing TABOR refunds. TABOR refunds are a taxpayer right. Eliminating or sharply reducing those refunds means that government will keep more of the money that families earn. For households already stretched thin, losing TABOR refunds is a significant financial hit.

TABOR was enshrined in the state constitution to protect taxpayers against unchecked government growth.

2) Proposition NN eventually hands the state over $5 billion per year at the expense of Colorado families. Funding for Colorado schools has increased 25 percent over the last five years, while enrollment continues to decline.

Before reaching deeper into taxpayers' pockets, the government should demonstrate it has exhausted every avenue to reduce wasteful spending, eliminate redundant programs, and deliver existing services more efficiently.

From content.leg.colorado.gov, the official voter guide.

Who’s behind it

Party positions: Colorado Democratic Party: Yes · Colorado Republican Party: No position published · Libertarian Party of Colorado: No · Colorado Forward Party: No position

Committees registered to support or oppose Proposition NN, and what they reported to Colorado Secretary of State TRACER (tracer.sos.colorado.gov). Checked 2026-10-20.

Before comparing the sides: each committee’s figures come from its own latest report, so they can cover different dates. Some committees work on more than one measure or other campaigns, and their totals include all of it. A side with no registered committee can still have supporters. How much a side raised says nothing about whether the measure is a good idea.

Supporting

YES FOR COLORADO KIDS

Ballot measure committee

Raised $8,507,490 · spent $6,840,181 · as reported through Oct 14, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOC · $6,000,000
Labor union · federal PAC contributions, 2025–26: $1,966,500 to Democratic and $11,000 to Republican candidates and party committees, $35,000 to others (FEC)
COLORADO FUND FOR CHILDREN & PUBLIC EDUCATION · $1,260,000
Other · Colorado state contributions since Jan 1, 2025: $4,500 to Democratic and $0 to Republican candidates and party committees; $16,059 to candidates for nonpartisan offices (TRACER)
GARY ADVOCACY LLC · $1,000,000
Company
ROSE COMMUNITY · $50,000
501(c)(3) nonprofit
MCCANDLESS TRUCK CENTER · $35,000
Company

PEOPLE FOR A FAIR COLORADO

Ballot measure committee

Registered; no financial report filed yet.

MAKE GOOD CHANGE

Ballot measure committee

“The People's Ballot is an unofficial voter guide to the 14 statewide ballot measures on Colorado's Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot.” — its website

Registered; no financial report filed yet.

Opposing

BRIGHTER COLORADO

Ballot measure committee

Raised $3,270,775 · spent $2,760,499 · as reported through Oct 14, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

COMMON SENSE AMERICA · $2,000,000
Other
GOPAC ELECTION FUND · $1,000,000
Political action committee · federal PAC contributions, 2025–26: $0 to Democratic and $71,500 to Republican candidates and party committees (FEC)
COLORADO DAWN · $100,000
501(c)(4) nonprofit
RADO CAPITAL · $25,000
Company
STAVA, MATT · $25,000 · individual
own contributions since Jan 1, 2020, federal (FEC): $0 to Democratic and $13,731 to Republican candidates and party committees; Colorado state (TRACER): $450 to Democratic and $0 to Republican candidates and party committees; $1,000 to candidates for nonpartisan offices

This committee is registered for more than one measure; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

AFFORDABLE COLORADO

Ballot measure committee

Raised $0 · spent $0 · as reported through Oct 14, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

INDEPENDENCE INSTITUTE · $11,417
501(c)(3) nonprofit

This committee is registered for more than one measure; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

LET'S GO COLORADO

Ballot measure committee

Raised $500,000 · spent $484,744 · as reported through Oct 14, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

DENVER METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE · $500,000
501(c)(6)

This committee is registered for more than one measure; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

A rhetorical technique is about wording, not about whether a measure is a good idea or an argument is true. Ballot wording is written under each state’s own rules, and official arguments by the people the state names. All Colorado measures →