2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 22 - Education
Financial Policies and Procedures
Article 41.5 - Voter Approval for Weakening of Debt Limitations on School Districts
§ 22-41.5-101. Legislative declaration

(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(a) In performing its duties under sections 2 and 15 of article IX, section 20 of article X, and section 6 of article XI of the state constitution, the general assembly must balance the interests of achieving a thorough and uniform public school system, controlling public debt, preserving a limited degree of local control, and reasonably restraining most the growth of government;

(b) In balancing these constitutional interests through the exercise of its legislative authority, the general assembly has enacted limitations on the ability of school districts to incur indebtedness;

(c) A statutory restriction has been imposed on the amount of bonded indebtedness that school districts can incur with voter approval for capital improvements;

(d) From time to time, changes to such limitations imposed on school districts are necessary in order to keep these constitutional interests properly balanced in light of changing circumstances;

(e) Section 20 (1) of article X of the state constitution prohibits the weakening of "other limits on district revenue, spending, and debt" without future voter approval;

(f) No change in school district debt occurs by virtue of statutory changes that increase a limit when the debt would not actually increase without school district voter approval and any actual weakening occurs only when school district voter approval is obtained under an increased limit; and

(g) By requiring voters to give approval at the school district level for any weakening of a school district limit on debt, the voter approval requirement of section 20 (1) of article X is satisfied in a manner achieving a reasonable result through legislative harmonization of constitutional provisions.