It requires all tax increases to be approved by majority vote of the people
TABOR requires that before government can raise taxes, Colorado voters have a voice in the process. To raise taxes, take on debt, or spend any excess revenue above the TABOR Revenue Limit, they must put forth a proposal for Colorado voters to approve.

State Government Spending & Revenue growth is capped at Population Growth + Inflation
TABOR places reasonable limits on the growth of government, debt, and spending. This formula is based on the previous year’s budget, plus population growth and inflation, so as our population grows, government can grow along with it. TABOR helps ensure that it does so responsibly.

Excess revenue must be refunded to the people
Any revenue collected above the TABOR Revenue Limit, those funds must be returned to the people in the form of a TABOR refund, unless the voters approve otherwise. In fact, since 1993, TABOR has returned over $3 billion to Colorado taxpayers.

In November of 2020, Coloradans overwhelmingly voted to help close this loophole with the passage of Proposition 117. Prop. 117 empowers voters with the opportunity to approve any new state enterprises that are projected to generate $100 million or more in its first five years. This is vital because over the last 27 years, “fees” in Colorado have skyrocketed.

When TABOR limits were implemented in 1993, 46% of our state budget was exempted from it. Now, nearly 70% of our budget is exempt. This is about sensible spending, protecting your hard-earned tax dollars, and living within our means. Our state budget is already more than $50 billion.

We don’t have a revenue problem. We have a spending and spending decision problem. By protecting TABOR, we can help protect Colorado taxpayers and keep spending in check.

Myth: TABOR harms funding for essential services such as roads and education.

Fact: TABOR protects Colorado by ensuring responsible spending. Every year, the state takes hundreds of millions of dollars that are supposed to go to school districts and transportation and spends it on other things, including their own pet projects. Now, lawmakers are trying to fill these “gaps” by keeping more of our hard-earned money instead of truly prioritizing our needs as a state.

Myth: Colorado voters never approve tax increases.

Fact: Colorado voters have approved multiple tax increases, including Amendment 64 in 2012 (Marijuana), Proposition DD in 2018 (Online Sports Betting) and Proposition EE in 2020 (Tobacco). It’s up to our legislators to put forth a responsible and transparent plan for the voters to approve instead of trying to take advantage of loopholes to take more of our hard-earned money.

Myth: Our population has exploded, and TABOR doesn’t allow us to grow as a state.

Fact: TABOR does allow us to grow, but it ensures that as we do, we do so responsibly. Our state budget already is already more than $30 billion. Politicians need to spend our tax dollars smarter before we raise taxes and increase spending without voter approval.

Myth: TABOR erodes legislative authority
Fact: The 10th Circuit court of appeals has ruled there is no standing to rule TABOR illegal under the Enabling Clause in the Colorado Constitution. The legislature regularly uses the ballot to pass policy (see Prop HH & Prop CC) and Colorado has had a history going back to 1910 of citizen led policy change. TABOR checks & balances the legislature; it does not undermine their authority. The legislature still spends the money and still passes the law of the land.