NO on Prop 130:
Funding for More Police — Misdirected Spending that Ignores True Community Safety
If passed, this measure would divert $350 million from the state general fund exclusively to fund more “peace officers,” which is limited to traditional law enforcement officers only.
✖ False Claims
Proposition falsely claims to fund first responders but restricts the funds to local law enforcement only – not fire fighters, EMTs, mental health professionals, or even crime-reducing co-responder or community response initiatives like Denver’s STAR program.
✖ Cutting community services to fund police
Colorado already allocates more funding to law enforcement per capita than 75 percent of states in the U.S., according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Yet, this measure diverts even more funding to local law enforcement at the expense of other essential services that are proven to increase and support public safety, such as education resources, mental health services, co-responder programs, and community development.
✖ No funding for true community safety
Proposition 130 diverts $350 million from critical services that support actual public safety, such as education, mental health services, and community-based violence interruption. Research consistently shows that investments in these areas prevent crime more effectively than increasing law enforcement funding alone.
✖ Insufficient oversight and accountability
The proposed government funding mandated by this measure does not include any oversight or accountability measures, creating opportunities for misuse and waste of state tax dollars by local governments.
✖
Prop 130 Funds police at the expense of communities.
What will Prop 130 cost Coloradans?
If passed, this initiative will force a budget cut equivalent to:
For more information, see Colorado Fiscal Institute’s Prop 130 Fact Sheet.
