2022 Ballot Recommendations
From The Colorado Freedom Force
Each year, our Ballot Guide is produced to help educate voters by summarizing the statewide ballot measures and offering vote suggestions.
As always, we encourage our readers to think freely and make decisions on their own.
In many instances on this year’s ballot, there is no clear cut “yes” or “no” answer.
If you happen to disagree with any of our recommendations, that just means you’re thinking for yourself!
Recommended Vote: NO
Proposition FF takes away income tax deductions for certain charitable givers, raising taxes by $100M per year to fund school lunches in public schools.
This proposition would effectively eliminate Colorado’s flat tax system, disproportionately placing the burden of this new tax on higher earners.
When a similar law was passed in Hawaii, charitable giving in the state plunged by more than 20%.
Recommended Vote: NO
Requires the state ballot to include a fiscal table for any citizen initiative related to changes in the tax structure.
While genuine transparency would be appreciated, this particular proposal skews the brackets of earners to make the amount of annual tax savings look trivial for lower earners, leaving a much wider income range in the brackets of higher earners.
It seems the real intent is to spin tax reductions into a battle of rich vs. poor, rather than a simple gesture to take less earned income from each hardworking Coloradan.
Recommended Vote: YES
Reduces the state income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.40%.
Colorado’s tax expenditures have increased by approximately $6.8B in just 2 years, from $30.0B in 2019 to $36.8B in 2021. Our government is not suffering from a funding problem, but rather a spending problem.
Recommended Vote: NO
If a majority of Coloradans vote yes on the NMHA ballot initiative, it would no longer be a state crime for people over 21 years old to grow, possess or gift psilocybin mushrooms. It would not allow dispensaries or other retailers to sell hallucinogens but would set up a system for state-regulated facilities, where trained staff could administer mushrooms and assist people through the experience.
The initiative wouldn’t allow for commercial sale of mushrooms, either in shops or person-to-person — instead, it sets up a model where Coloradans could grow mushrooms for personal use and give them to others.
Since this proposition creates more bureaucracy and regulations, as well as leaves many gaps in the future enforcement process, Colorado Freedom Force ultimately decided to oppose it.
Recommended Vote: NO
Seeks to earmark .01% of state income tax for the creation of an “affordable housing and equity” program, taking funds away from transportation and education tax dollars.
This $300 million per year program funds local governments to purchase land and develop affordable housing units.
Rather than giving more money (and ultimately control) to the government, Coloradans should instead focus on removing barriers in the permitting processes, reconsider current zoning laws were possible and lift “red tape” building regulations so free-market developers can build homes more cost effectively.
Recommended Vote: NEUTRAL
Increases the number of liquor store licenses and individual may own. Currently, Colorado liquor licensing rules benefit small business and keep corporations from having multiple liquor licenses. From a free market perspective, this is a barrier to free trade.
However, when considering the background of this particular proposition and that it was funded by out-of-state businesses to the tune of millions of dollars, Colorado Freedom Force would much rather see an organic, citizen-driven effort to change our laws if we were to support the effort.
Recommended Vote: YES
Prop 125 will permit the sale of fermented malt beverages and wine in grocery stores and convenience stores, where beer sales are already allowed.
From a free market perspective, this proposition removes government barriers between retailers and consumers.
Those who do not support wine sales in grocery and convenience stores are encouraged to continue purchasing your alcoholic beverages from small businesses.
Recommended Vote: YES
Approval of this Proposition would permit retail establishments to deliver alcoholic beverages to consumers, whether in their own vehicles or via third-party delivery services such as DoorDash and UberEats.
This proposition removes government barriers between retailers and consumers. Currently, liquor stores are permitted to deliver alcohol but rideshares cannot.
Those who do not support alcoholic beverage delivery are recommended to not use the services for themselves.
Recommended Vote: YES
Population growth in Colorado has led to disproportionate representation in the courts. This Amendment will carve Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties out of the current 18th district (established in 1964) and create a new, 23rd Judicial District. If passed, seven of the current 24 judges in the 18th will move into the new 23rd, with one additional judge being appointed by the Governor.
Recommended Vote: NO
Passage of this Amendment would extend the current homestead exemption which provides a property tax exemption for an owner-occupied residence of a qualifying senior or veteran with a disability equal to 50% of the first $200,000 of the actual value of the property.
The solution here is to eliminate property taxes altogether, rather than carve out special exemptions for groups of people.
The decision to oppose this Amendment has nothing to do with who it would benefit (military and armed service spouses) and everything to do with trying to treat all citizens equally under the tax structure.
Recommended Vote: YES
Passage of this amendment will allow the operators and managers of charitable gaming activities to receive compensation. It would also leave it up to the Colorado Legislature to determine how long an organization must exist to obtain a charitable gaming license.
Remember, if you disagree with any of these recommendations, congratulations, you didn’t need this ballot guide.
The freedom to think and decide for yourself is one of the greatest freedoms we all get to enjoy when casting ballots.
