Proposition NN: Keep and Spend Money for Education and Other Purposes
Statewide — all of Colorado
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Placed on the ballot by the state legislature (legislatively referred statute). The Blue Book lists 14 statewide measures on the November 3, 2026 ballot.[1][2]
The question on the ballot
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?[1]
Lets the state keep and spend revenue that TABOR would otherwise require to be refunded, up to a new limit equal to the current TABOR limit plus the highest amount previously spent on K-12 education from certain sources. Retained revenue first reimburses local governments for senior, disabled-veteran and Gold Star spouse property tax exemptions, then goes to a new Children's Account: K-12 teacher pay and retention, smaller classes and career and technical courses, and for ten years children's programs (prioritizing preschool and child care); afterward remaining money is for purposes set by the legislature. Fiscal impact per the Blue Book: TABOR refunds reduced by $329.9 million in 2026-27 and $521.0 million in 2027-28, which eliminates refunds in those years; state spending up by the same net amounts. Passes with a majority vote.[1]
A YES vote means
Allows the state to keep some or all of the revenue that otherwise would be refunded to taxpayers under TABOR. The retained revenue must be spent on K-12 education, programs that support children, and any other purposes.
A NO vote means
Maintains current TABOR refunds and funding levels for K-12 education, programs that support children, and other state purposes.
The law today
The Colorado Constitution limits state revenue each year to the prior year's limit adjusted for inflation plus population growth (the TABOR limit). Revenue above the limit must be refunded to taxpayers (TABOR refunds) unless voters allow the state to keep it. Under current law, TABOR refund mechanisms already include reimbursing local governments for property tax exemptions for seniors, veterans with a disability and Gold Star surviving spouses (Blue Book).[1]
Official fiscal estimate
Per the Blue Book, Proposition NN would reduce TABOR refunds by $329.9 million in 2026-27 and $521.0 million in 2027-28 (eliminating refunds in those years) and by varying amounts later, and would raise state spending on net by the same amounts. In 2027-28 that is $206.1 million for property tax reimbursements, $234.0 million for K-12 education and $234.0 million for programs that support children, offset by -$153.1 million for general government purposes. The first-year limit is $4.6 billion above the TABOR limit, but the state is estimated to keep about $500 million.[1]
Arguments made for
On record in support
On record in opposition
- Brighter Colorado, Don't Price Us Out, and Let's Go Colorado: registered issue committees opposed.[3][7]
- Your Family's Future Alliance (chair Penn Pfiffner, who also leads the TABOR Foundation): opposes Proposition NN and Amendment 87 as changes to TABOR protections.[7]
- Americans for Prosperity Colorado Issue Committee: among four committees fighting Amendment 87 and Proposition NN.[6]
Campaign money
Yes for Colorado Kids (for) had raised more than $5 million through Oct. 13, including $3 million from the National Education Association (The Colorado Sun, Oct. 14, 2026); the Colorado Education Association and its affiliate gave another $1 million (Denver Gazette, Oct. 14). Opposing: Brighter Colorado had raised $2.6 million through Sept. 30 (including $2 million from Common Sense America), Don't Price Us Out more than $1 million, both also active on other measures (Denver Gazette), and the Americans for Prosperity Colorado Issue Committee about $350,000 opposing Amendment 87 (The Colorado Sun).[6][5]
Research notes & limits
Source: the official 2026 Blue Book (Legislative Council Staff, nonpartisan), which gives the ballot title, the 'what your vote means' text, an analysis with arguments for and against, and the fiscal impact. Its 'for' and 'against' arguments are the staff's own summaries of the main arguments on each side, not statements from named campaigns; the booklet points to the Secretary of State's page for supporting and opposing organizations, which was not reviewed here. Ballotpedia is cited only for the certified-measure count. Ballotpedia notes a separate road-funding initiative was certified but withdrawn after its proponents reached an agreement with the state, so it is not on the ballot.
Sources · 7
Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.2026 State Ballot Information Booklet (Blue Book) · Colorado Legislative Council Staff · 2026-09-10 Official record
- 2.Colorado 2026 ballot measures · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-18 Reference
- 3.Amendments and Propositions on the 2026 Ballot: information and contacts (registered issue committees) · Colorado Secretary of State Official record
- 4.Colorado ballot measure committees raise more than $20 million for 2026 election · Denver Gazette · 2026-09-25 News report
- 5.Voter ID, tax measures drive millions in Colorado spending · Denver Gazette · 2026-10-14 News report
- 6.Millions in untraceable conservative money is flooding into Colorado to oppose tax-related ballot measures · The Colorado Sun · 2026-10-14 News report
- 7.Proposition NN explained: Colorado TABOR refunds would be sent to K-12 · The Colorado Sun · 2026-10-03 News report