This November, there are three citizen-led initiatives that will appear on the statewide Colorado ballot. While this is an off-year election, that does not mean 2021 is not an important election year. In Colorado, off-year elections are reserved for fiscal measures that will affect the budget and taxes we pay. While these types of measures can be technical and difficult to understand, the impacts of them are substantial. That’s why we’re happy to present the Bell Policy Center’s 2021 Ballot Guide to help voters as they fill out their ballots this fall.

As our state grapples with the recovery from the economic distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to take a holistic view of the state’s fiscal picture — both for the long term and short term. In the immediate future, we know federal funding has helped plug a lot of holes that were present prior to 2020 and helped address news ones that crept up during the pandemic. 

We also know our current budget picture — while constrained by TABOR — is positive. But in the long term, there are many questions left to answer. What happens in a few years when that flush of federal funding dries up? Will Colorado have enough revenue to cover our state’s important needs when during the next economic dip? How fair and equitable is our system and how do we ensure our future is more fair, not less?

These are crucial issues that should be the focus of discussion as we move into 2022. Before that time comes, we can start to answer some of these questions through these statewide initiatives. That is what the Bell Policy Center is hoping to illuminate through our 2021 Ballot Guide and forthcoming research and advocacy. This guide will help you navigate these complicated issues, with our recommendations based on the policy analysis of our team and the implications for tax fairness, racial equity, and economic mobility. 

Election Day is Tuesday, November 2. Download a copy of the Bell Policy Center’s 2021 Ballot Guide now. Haz clic aquí para una versión en español.

Want to learn more about this year’s measures? Be sure to also join us on Tuesday, October 19 at 5:30 p.m. for a live discussion with our policy team and The Colorado Sun. Register now!