Amendment 87Amendment and state law · Citizen initiative
Graduated state income tax
Explain it like I'm 5
Colorado now uses one income-tax rate. This measure would use tax brackets, like stairs: rates would generally be lower on smaller taxable incomes and higher on larger incomes, with new money for schools, health care, and child care.
Yes vote
Colorado replaces its flat income tax with graduated rates from 3.7% to 8.4% and dedicates new revenue to education, health care, and child care.
No vote
Colorado keeps its current flat state income-tax system.
The question to ask yourself
Should Colorado replace its flat tax with higher rates on higher incomes to raise more money for public programs?
The case for
- The stated structure lowers taxes for most taxpayers, including taxable income below the cited threshold.
- Raises dedicated revenue for education, health care, and early childhood programs.
- Makes the tax rate rise with income instead of applying one rate to everyone.
Backed by: Protect Colorado’s Future coalition, Bell Policy Center, Colorado Fiscal Institute, Colorado Center on Law and Policy
The case against
- The ballot estimate says total state taxes would rise by about $2.7 billion annually.
- Higher rates could discourage high-income residents, businesses, or investment.
- Fixed brackets can push more income into higher brackets over time unless adjusted.
Opposed by: Brighter Colorado, Americans for Prosperity Colorado, Advance Colorado, Colorado Chamber of Commerce, Attorney General Phil Weiser
- Money
- The ballot estimate is about $2.7 billion in additional annual state taxes, with rates ranging from 3.7% to 8.4% and revenue dedicated to education, health care, and child care.
- Don't be misled
- It is misleading to say every dollar of a high earner’s income is taxed at the top rate, because graduated rates apply only to income within each bracket.