Colorado Voters Face 2 TABOR Measures in 2026, Including 4.4% Tax Overhaul
Updated
Updated · Vail Daily · May 12
Colorado Voters Face 2 TABOR Measures in 2026, Including 4.4% Tax Overhaul
6 articles · Updated · Vail Daily · May 12
Two proposals are moving toward Colorado’s November 2026 ballot: Initiative 195 would replace the state’s 4.4% flat income tax with graduated rates, and SB26-135 would let the state keep revenue above TABOR limits.
Initiative 195 would amend TABOR by deleting its flat-tax requirement and exempting new income-tax revenue from TABOR spending caps, directing the money to K-12 education, health care, and early childhood programs.
SB26-135, which appeared likely to pass the legislature, would ask voters to allow excess revenue to fund a 2% annual increase in K-12 spending for 10 years.
The debate centers on whether the measures weaken TABOR, but both still rely on TABOR’s core requirement that voters approve tax increases and state retention of revenue above constitutional limits.
Could giving up $7,000 in tax refunds truly fix Colorado's underfunded schools?
Beyond schools, could this measure also solve the state's crippling child care crisis?
Colorado’s $100 Million TABOR Cap Ballot Measure: The 2026 Vote to Reshape K-12 Education Funding
Overview
In November 2026, Colorado voters will decide on a major ballot measure that could reshape the state’s finances. This proposal, which comes from Senate Bill 135, aims to raise the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) cap so the state can keep more revenue, mainly to boost K-12 education funding. Senate Bill 135 passed the legislature in May 2026 without any Republican support, highlighting its political significance. The measure is a response to long-standing challenges in school funding and reflects ongoing efforts to address Colorado’s fiscal constraints through direct voter approval.