With 98% of precincts reporting, just over a third of Colorado voters -- 36.4% -- voted in favor of Proposition 103. Sponsored by state senator Rollie Heath, Prop. 103 would have temporarily raised income and state sales taxes for a period of five years to make up for cuts to education.
Prop. 103 was the only proposed statewide tax increase on the ballot in 2011. Last year, voters in Arizona and Oregon approved tax increases.
In a May 18, 2010, special election, Arizona voters approved Proposition 100, which instituted a temporary 1% transaction and use tax for three years. Two-thirds of the revenue raised goes to public education and one-third to health and human services and public safety.
In a January 2010 special election, Oregon voters approved two tax increases that were enacted by the legislature and then subjected to voter approval through the popular referendum process. Measure 66 raised income tax rates for individuals earning $125,000 or more and households earning $250,000 or more. Measure 67 raised minimum taxes for businesses and corporations.
The last election in which voters approved a tax increase proposed by a citizen initiative was in 2006. That year, Alaska voters approved a new tax on cruise ships, and voters in Arizona and South Dakota approved increases in tobacco taxes.
Read more about Prop. 103 in the Denver Post.
