Funding for education is the buzzword for this year’s ballot as Colorado voters decide whether to approve Amendment 66 and Proposition AA. Two votes calling for increases in taxes to increase monies going toward education are on the ballot. What chance do they have in Mesa County, where voters are historically unfavorable toward tax hikes?

Proposition AA is an addition to last year’s Amendment 64, legalizing the recreational use and sale of marijuana, and calls for a tax increase between cultivators and retail facilities as well as sales tax of up to 10 percent for retail to consumer sales. The tax won’t allow the price to be taxed more than 15 percent in total and  is in line with sin taxes like the ones on alcohol. Many hold the reason that amendment 64 was voted in last year was because of the additional revenues it could provide (the first $40 million going to public education), and, if done right, it could prove to be the example for federal level legalization.

Former Grand Junction mayor Gregg Palmer points out the retail sale of marijuana is illegal in Mesa County, so whether counties with the same policy deserve any or a portion of the tax money earned is being questioned. Mesa county has been struggling economically, so it could use any additional revenue to counteract some of the recent cuts to the budget. In the next few years, the impact in other areas of legal retail should provide example enough to convince voters to change their mind.

Colorado is one of three states to have statewide education tax reform on its ballot and asks for approximately a $950 million yearly increase in school spending. The need for education reform isn’t the question, rather how much is actually needed.

“Voters want to see a better solution,” explains Palmer, “rather than seeing how much money we can throw against a wall to see how much sticks.” More money certainly doesn’t change teaching methods but can be used for incentives, bettering classroom materials and more teachers per students contra the recent trend of more students per teacher. The state as a whole has a $1.6 billion surplus thanks to a considerable amount of post-recession growth, and along with Proposition AA, Palmer sees that there can be an increase in funding without a tax increase of the volume that is being asked for.

Investing in our future is the best way to stay ahead and keep jobs in our economy. As we become more advanced, there is a bigger need for specialization as well as a trained and competent work force. Investing in education keeps innovation stemming from our country, ultimately bettering our economy and life for American workers.

brjthomp@mavs.coloradomesa.edu