Colorado voters said no to a tax increase that promised smaller class sizes, all-day kindergarten, and smarter education spending. It was one of the most sweeping school-financing measures in the nation this year, according to The New York Times.
The vote was a major defeat for teachers’ unions and the state’s governor, John W. Hickenlooper, a Democrat who campaigned heavily in support of the measure to provide $1 billion mostly for educational improvements. It was also a blow to charter-school advocates and a group of deep-pocketed philanthropists who had supported the effort as a rare opportunity to infuse new money into poor and struggling schools. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York contributed $1 million, as did Bill and Melinda Gates, whose foundation is a major contributor to education projects.
The proposal to set a 25 percent tax on recreational marijuana was approved. The tax fund is needed to help the state fund a new system of regulations and enforcement.
Eleven rural Colorado counties delivered a divided vote on an effort to form a 51st state called North Colorado according toPolitico. Six counties voted against the idea — including Weld County, whose commissioners spearheaded the effort, citing frustration with the Democrat-led state government that they claim neglects rural interests. Five counties voted for it.
Four Colorado cities voted on fracking within city limits: Boulder, Broomfield, Fort Collins and Lafayette. Bizjournal reported Boulder's anti-fracking measure passed handily, while in Fort Collins and Lafayette the measures passed, but with smaller margins. In Broomfield, the yes and no votes were separated by the slimmest of margins as of Wednesday.
