Voters back nicotine tax measure to fund preschool
Colorado voters have made a clear statement in support of early education by overwhelmingly passing Proposition II. The measure, which allows the state to keep excess revenue from a nicotine tax, will provide an additional $23.7 million to Colorado's universal preschool program.
With this additional funding, the program, which was one of Governor Jared Polis' signature initiatives, will be able to expand and provide tuition-free classes to even more children. This expansion is an important step in ensuring that all children have access to quality early education, regardless of their family's income.
The passage of Prop II is a victory for families in Colorado. The program, which was launched in August, has already proved to be popular with families, providing tuition-free classes to over 38,000 four-year-olds and 10,000 three-year-olds this year. This measure will not only help fund more preschool for kids, but it will also save families money.
Governor Polis expressed his gratitude to the voters for their support, stating, "Thank you to all voters who made their voices heard, and thank you for continuing Colorado's clear history of supporting early education."
Although the launch of the program has faced some challenges, including a lawsuit from school district officials in August, the additional funding from Prop II will help address these issues. The money will go towards creating more half-day and full-day preschool spots for children in need.
This year, full-day spots were only available to 4-year-olds from lower-income families with additional risk factors. But with the extra funding, the state plans to expand this to cover more children next year.
With the success of Prop II and the overwhelming support for the universal preschool program, there is no denying that early education is a top priority for the people of Colorado. This measure not only benefits children and families, but it also sets a precedent for other states to prioritize early education and invest in the future of our children.
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In the true spirit of fiscal responsibility, the passage of Prop II also demonstrates Colorado's commitment to the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, commonly known as TABOR.
The good news, if there is such a thing tied to a tax, this measure ensures that the extra revenue generated from taxes will go towards early education, rather than being wasted other unnecessary government spending.