Voters in Colorado won’t be weighing in on any national races — control of Congress will be decided during next year’s midterm elections. But they will vote on two statewide ballot initiatives, along with any local races, like city council and school board, that are going on in their jurisdictions. 

There are just two statewide ballot questions on voters’ ballots this year, Propositions MM and LL. 

Both have to do with increasing funding for the state’s Healthy School Meals for all Program, which was created by voters in November 2022 under Proposition FF. The program provides free school breakfast and lunch for all students, regardless of their household income. 

The program was initially expected to cost up to $80 million a year, but higher-than-expected demand and inflation have pushed the true cost to at least $150 million. 

Proposition MM would raise income taxes on households making over $300,000 or more by limiting standard and itemized tax deductions. That would raise as much as $95 million more every year for the free meals program. 

The tax increase would impact about 6% of Colorado households that file taxes, and translates to an average annual increase of $327 for single filers and $574 increase for joint filers.

Proposition LL would allow the state to keep and spend excess revenue for the school meals program. Under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, when programs take in more tax revenue than was initially projected, the state must ask voters if it can keep that excess revenue. 

Grand County GOP recommends a no vote on Proposition LL

In 2022, Colorado passed HB22-1414, increasing income tax on a few higher income earners to fund Prop FF, expanding the “free” breakfast//lunch program to all Colorado preK-12 students. Initial funding had come from temporary federal COVID relief revenue.

In 2024 Colorado voters approved Proposition FF defining that a small set of taxpayers would bear the burden of continuing this program. By-the-way, a “free” government provided benefit is a complete misnomer. Any time someone gets something for nothing, someone else gets nothing for something. All such benefits are provided through taxing someone else, and in a case like this, charitable contributions will most likely be affected.

Flash forward to 2025, we find out that the actual cost of the these “free” meals is much higher than what was expected by the state legislature. Rather than reducing program costs, by cutting new expenditures to equal existing revenue, thus returning to the longstanding program goal of helping those truly in need, they are back again, asking you to punish some higher income taxpayers to raise more money to hide their lack of financial responsibility and attack Colorado’s employers.  We ask you to consider if this lack of understanding concerning the true costs was inadvertent or deliberate.

As with HB22-1414 and FF, referred measure LL is once again worded to pull on your heartstrings —hungry kids. How many times will you allow the legislature to dupe you?  Passing LL will only allow the legislature to use this new revenue to go towards these “subsidized meals”, while they turn around and use any funds freed up to expand into other new programs. LL also asks you to exempt these taxes from any future TABOR refunds. 

Yes, the GOP is cognizant there is hunger in our community — but the school meals program should be returned to where it started, which was to provide for those truly in need.

The Grand County Republicans have prepared a spreadsheet that details the costs associated with HB22-1414, and Proposition FF. If you would like to know more, please contact Dan Osborne, director of communication at dan@acugc.com.

Please vote no on Proposition LL.

-Grand County GOP

Grand County Democrats urge voters to approve LL and MM

The Grand County Democrats endorse Propositions LL and MM to keep kids fed. These common sense ballot initiatives will save working families money, provide better wages for schools food staff, and support our farmers and ranchers. These initiatives will help ensure over 600,000 Colorado students continue to have access to nutritious meals at school without placing new burdens on families. 

Every parent wants to know their child is prepared to succeed in the classroom. When kids are well-fed, they’re better prepared to learn, work hard, and achieve their potential. These initiatives are a practical investment in our future workforce and the well-being of Colorado families. 

Proposition LL does not increase taxes. Prop MM is the Colorado Legislature’s response to HR-1 and was amended during the special session as a way to offset the federal cutbacks. Proposition MM will reduce state income tax deductions for high-income households that make over $300,000 annually.

Passing LL and MM will:

·  Continue the extremely popular, free school meals program for over 600,000 Colorado students.

·  Direct funding to buy fresh, local food from Colorado farmers and ranchers.

·  Support better wages and training for frontline school nutrition staff.

·  Protect access to SNAP for more than 300,000 Coloradans facing federal cuts

Without these measures, Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program could end for many schools as early as January 2026, risking kids’ nutrition and families’ food security.

-Liz Newsom, Chair of Grand County Democrats