HB 17-1187

House Bill 17-1187 changes how Colorado calculates its budget limit, allowing for a higher spending cap based on the state's income growth over the past five years instead of just inflation and population changes. This could mean more money available for the state to spend each year. The bill needs voter approval because it modifies an existing voter-approved law called Referendum C. As of now, the governor has signed this bill into law, meaning the proposed change is officially approved and will be put before voters for their final say in an upcoming election.

Official Summary

In 2005, voters approved Referendum C, which is a voter-approved revenue change to the TABOR fiscal year spending limit. Under the referendum, the state is permitted to retain and spend all state revenues up to the excess state revenues cap. The excess state revenues cap is adjusted annually for inflation and population changes, among other things. The bill modifies the excess state revenues cap by allowing an annual adjustment for an increase based on the average annual change of Colorado personal income over the last 5 years, rather than adjusting for inflation and population. Colorado personal income is the total personal income for Colorado as reported by a federal agency. As the modification may increase the amount that the state retains and spends in a given fiscal year, the bill seeks voter approval for the change, as required by TABOR. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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