Committee approves TABOR fiscal language for Initiative 195’s Blue Book analysis

Legislative Council staff walked the executive committee through a memorandum showing the TABOR‑required fiscal information to be included in the Blue Book for Amendment 87, which corresponds to Initiative 195. Staff said the Blue Book must include (1) fiscal‑year spending figures for the current year and the prior four years, and (2) estimates of the maximum dollar amount of a tax increase and the fiscal‑year spending level without that increase for the amendment's first full fiscal year (listed for FY 27–28 in the memo).

Committee members asked technical questions about the memo's tables and terminology. A member asked whether the tables explicitly showed "maximum amounts"; staff confirmed the draft language reflects maximum dollar estimates and that fiscal‑year spending includes the revenue subject to TABOR, which comprises most general fund revenue plus eligible cash funds. Staff noted that the certified fiscal‑year 25–26 figure was provided by the state controller and that tables 4 and 5 in the memo contain the relevant line items.

Mister President moved to approve the staff recommendations for the fiscal information to be included in the Blue Book ballot analysis for Initiative 195; the motion was seconded by Majority Leader Duran and passed unanimously on a roll call. The committee's approval authorizes the staff‑draft language to appear in the voter information materials.