Colorado Proposition 103: The massive $3 billion tax increase and the fallacy that more money means better education
October 12th, 2011
Student achievement has not increased with more spending but Proposition 103’s proponents want to levy a massive tax increase on Colorado taxpayers to fund education.
Many voters will begin casting their ballots in Colorado this week and a seemingly feel-good measure to pour more money into public education, Proposition 103, is one issue to be decided. Despite proponents’ attempts to deceive voters, this is a massive tax increase that would be felt by every family in the state during hard economic times.
The brainchild of Colorado State Senator Rollie Heath, D-Boulder, Proposition 103 would require an increase in not only state income tax but also the state sales tax. Income taxes would rise by a whopping 8% and sales taxes would jump a significant 3.4%.
Over the five year period these tax increases are in effect, the state’s coffers would swell by nearly $3 billion dollars. Families across Colorado who are already struggling to make ends meet would be footing the bill and throwing good money after bad.
Those who support the measure call this a “five-year time out from school cuts.” If you read their mailings or visit their website, you will hardly find the word ‘tax.’ They clearly believe Colorado voters are idiots but supporters’ attempts to disguise the issue are entirely disingenuous.
The wording of the ballot issue clearly says, “Shall state taxes be increased” and “increasing the rate of the state income tax” as well as “increasing the rate of the state sales and use tax.”
Like the rest of the nation, Colorado’s economy is hurting. Failed leadership in Washington DC, policies that do more to harm than help, and a state legislature filled with those bent on installing a nanny state are all to blame. Coloradoans are paying the price.
Proposition 103 seeks to tug at the heart strings though by insisting this is all for the kids. After all, schools have had to tighten their belts and watch their spending just like everyone else but that isn’t fair.
In reality however, little has come from massive increases in education spending in recent decades. Have we seen an increase in student achievement with increased funds? No.
In fact, despite our generosity, students have not reaped the benefits. Unions have. School district administrations have. Parents and students have seen nothing.
Taking a look at statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) bears this fact out. These are not numbers from the left wing or the right wing – this is from the Department of Education itself.
In 1979 Colorado was spending $6,243 per pupil in our elementary and secondary schools. Today, Colorado spends over $9,200 per pupil when adjusted for inflation. This is a massive 48% increase in education spending.
Have we seen our children receive 48% better education? Have their test scores increased by 48%? Of course they have not.
What about increasing teacher pay? Surely that equates to better outcomes right? Wrong. In 1979 the average teacher salary nationally was $ 47,106 while today it is at $54,819 (adjusted for inflation). That is a 16% increase for little return.
What about putting more teachers in the classroom? In 1979, schools operated on average across the nation with a 19.1 pupil to teacher ratio. Today that is down to 15.8, a 20% increase in teachers. Where is our 20% return?
All of these facts show the fallacy behind the claim that more spending equals better student achievement. Student achievement has remained largely flat over the same periods discussed above so why throw more money at a problem when it does little good?
Of course our public education system needs help, but money is not the solution like Senator Heath, teachers unions and supporters of Proposition 103 would have us believe. Real reform is needed, not more money, and all the deceitful tactics they throw out won’t change that fact.
More on Proposition 103:
[...] http://www.tonysrants.com/colorado/colorado-proposition-103-the-massive-3-billion-tax-increase-and-i… Posted in Colorado politics, Elections, Issues [...]
If you want to see the REAL effect of “more money” for schools – and the Union’s heavy hand, watch the documentary: The Cartel.
http://www.perdaily.com/2010/04/bowdons-documentary-the-cartel-a-busmans-holiday-for-teachers.html
NO on 103!!!
[...] quo in the financially troubled school district and flags keep going up. Fellman supports the massive Proposition 103 tax increase and is a former teacher (ever heard of the fox watching the hen house?). [...]
So, what are we supposed to do besides voting against 103? I’ve hears of two poorly-funded organizations, one giving robo-calls, but almost total silence from the educ-reformers. Perhaps Indep Institute and their ilk are doing stuff, but the word is not getting out. I’ve never received a mailer, for instance. Few editorials in the papers discuss this cogently.
Its not just a tax increase but a total waste of money because the schools won’t be any better without devolving power — and money — to the most local level, or better yet, parents.
Where are the advocates of charterizing every darn school? Who is advocating the break up of corrupt districts? Who has followed the money and published the waste?
I’m a new resident, and I’m trying to figure this all out, but its frustrating. We (conservatives, reformers, libertarians) need to get our act togheter, coordinate and share information. Quickly.
Hermy
[...] was written despite the fact that the numbers back up his testimony. As we wrote back in October when discussing the now failed Proposition 103, statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) clearly show Hanushek was spot [...]
The fallacy is that more money provides more, or enough of something…. In fact, the only guarantee is that you won’t get more than what you pay for. People often say: “you get what you pay for.” Not true. You rarely if ever get more that what you pay for, and often get less.
The same can be said for the U.S. Department of Defense. More money doesn’t necessarily mean better product.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
One the list of big defense spenders, China and Russia don’t spend half of what we do. I think that is part of where
I’ve seen plenty of active duty soldiers picking up trash. Is that helping us to be better defended? Take those soldiers off of active duty, put them into the reserve or guard and call them up only when we actually need them.
I’m all for defending the country, but we don’t need enough to defend the world. That’s just a temptation to do something with all that money and power. What would our founding fathers say?
Thanks!
Andrew