Colorado Proposition 137 ballot measure

Colorado voters are considering Proposition 137, a ballot measure designed to fund wildfire mitigation, conservation, watershed restoration, and outdoor recreation. The initiative proposes creating an annual pool of approximately $175 million to $180 million by exempting revenue from the state’s sporting goods sales tax from the Colorado Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) revenue limits.

Supporters, including Attorney General Phil Weiser and various environmental coalitions, argue the measure provides essential funding for landscape-scale impacts like forest thinning without raising taxes, noting funds would only be utilized during budget surplus years. Campaign filings indicate supporters have raised over $4 million for the cause.

Critics, such as the Common Sense Institute, argue the measure could reduce TABOR tax refunds for residents, with projections suggesting individual refunds could drop by $26 and joint filers by up to $166. Additionally, some opponents contend the funding is insufficient to address the wildfire crisis effectively, specifically noting a lack of dedicated resources for home-hardening efforts in wildland-urban interface areas.