2006 Colorado Referendum J
Open-knowledge reference entry
2006 Colorado Referendum J was a failed ballot measure to implement stricter opening requirements for public school district budgets in Colorado.
Background
Colorado law required school districts to set aside money from within the total budget for specific purposes, such as buildings, insurance, books and other school supplies, and services for "at-risk" students. These specific budgetary earmarks accounted $600 on average per student according to 2004–2005 school year figures — roughly eight percent of district operating budgets. Referendum J proposed a new requirement: each school district must spend a minimum of 65% of its operating budget on a set of budget items specified in the referendum.
Budget items
Referendum J required that 65% of school district operating budgets be spent on the following budgetary items:
books and other instructional materials
classroom computers
field trips, athletics, arts, and music
libraries and librarians
principals
support services provided at the school level
college placement services
food services
student health and medical services
student testing
teacher training
transportation
support staff
bus drivers
food service workers
guidance counselors
nurses
teachers, classroom aides, and tutors
Notably absent from Referendum J were:
superintendents and school boards
building construction, maintenance, and repairs
central administrative functions
accounting
budgeting
payroll
Corrective action
Schools that fell short of budgetary requirements set forth in Referendum J would be required to increase budgetary earmarks for specified items by two percent per year until minimums were met. Provisions were made for districts to request a waiver for a period of one year. The referendum allowed voters to exempt specific districts from its budgetary requirements, and standardized budget submission formats to the state to facilitate tracking of Referendum J compliance.
Estimated fiscal impact
The Colorado Department of Education's oversight of Referendum J requirements was expected to increase state costs by approximately $62,000 annually. School district costs may have also been increased by requiring more detailed expenditure tracking, budget planning, and budget submission procedures introduced with Referendum J if it passed. Referendum J did not increase funding for public education.
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