Colorado Proposition II wins big, adding more funding for universal preschool

Pat Ferrier, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·2 min read
Julliette McKenrick and Goldie Vleck line up to play outside at Teaching Tree Early Childhood Learning Center in Fort Collins on Oct. 16.
Julliette McKenrick and Goldie Vleck line up to play outside at Teaching Tree Early Childhood Learning Center in Fort Collins on Oct. 16.

In what amounted to a housekeeping measure, Colorado voters approved Proposition II with nearly 67% of the vote on Tuesday. The measure allows the state to keep excess revenue from a previously approved tax increase on cigarettes, tobacco and nicotine products that was approved in 2020 to help fund a free universal preschool program.

That tax, Proposition EE, was expected to raise about $186.5 million in tax revenue in its first year, but actually generated $208 million — $21.5 million more than anticipated — mostly from the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping products.

More than 1.4 million votes were cast in Colorado's statewide election, a 36.6% turnout among 3.9 million active voters, according to final, unofficial results posted by the state.

Under the 1992 voter approved Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, or TABOR, the state couldn't keep the extra funds without voter approval and would have had to refund it to wholesalers and distributors of cigarette, tobacco and nicotine products. The sales tax on such products would have also been reduced to prevent future excess revenue.

Now that Proposition II has passed, the tax on a pack of cigarettes will be $1.94 from January through June next year, $2.24 from July 2024 through June 2027 and $2.54 beyond July 2027.

Proposition EE's funds were dedicated to rural schools, housing programs and K-12 education for its first three years. After that, beginning in fiscal year 2023-24, 92% of the funds, or about $32.5 million, are being spent on funding the state's universal preschool program.

Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement: “This year, we saw historic demand from Colorado families for free universal preschool. Coloradans value early childhood education and I am thrilled people voted in favor of providing more funding for our free universal preschool program that is saving families money, and this voter-approved measure will help fund more preschool for kids."

The Common Sense Institute, a Denver-based nonpartisan research group, estimates the revenue would allow about 5,100 more children to access additional tax-funded pre-K programs this year. The Early Childhood Council of Larimer County said the passage of II will ensure more than 2,500 children in Larimer County can continue to access needed preschool services.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado Proposition II adds more funding for universal preschool