What is the TABOR initiative??? (insurance, purchase, school district)

[shadow42]

I am looking into a possible move from socal to CO. My son will need special services through the school district as he has asperger's syndrome. Someone has mentioned limited funding for such things due to the TABOR initiative. What is that and how can it impact school district services? Also since the fed gov't had mandated with "NCLB", schools cannot refuse to give services to a child that needs them, so I am confused. Can anyone comment on this??

[Katarina Witt]

"TABOR" is an amendment to the Colorado constitution that was passed in 1992. It's main provisions require voting on every tax increase, also restricts the growth of state government to a certain formula w/o specific voter approval. It is very complicated. Basically it makes it harder to increase taxes. Its author was a man named Douglas Bruce, therefore you will hear it referred to as "the Bruce amendment". You will also hear about people in a locality or taxing district voting to "de-Bruce", ie removing the amendment's constranints. Education funding is even crazier. Many different laws and amendments relate to school finance. Most districts finance special ed, even if they have to take the money out of general funds.

[wxjay]

TABOR is probably the single worst thing that could ever have been passed in Colorado. It was passed during the heavily "red" days of the state. pittnurse70 explained it well, but for me, the ramifications were felt at the collegiate level. The state universities in Colorado are basically shut out of funding, resulting in lower quality education and very expensive fees, insurance, and tuition for their students. Basically, schools like the University of Colorado are so strapped that they are using research dollars to purchase chairs, desks, etc. for their students and offices.