Colorado voted to increase taxes on wealthy households to fund free meals for public school children and sustain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The proposition was projected to pass by the Associated Press on Monday evening as 57% of votes were counted, according to The Colorado Sun. The news comes during a government shutdown, and as the Trump administration administered cuts to SNAP benefits earlier this year.
All public school children will now have access to free meals
The passage of the proposition means households earning at least $300,000 will pay increased taxes in order to fund free meals for public school children. Single filers are estimated to owe an additional $327 in taxes, while joint filers would owe an extra $574. This will impact 200,000 households, or about 6% of Colorado households.
The proposition will also provide raises for school meal staff and help support school districts to buy locally-sourced food.
“This victory belongs to every parent, teacher, farmer and advocate who stood up for Colorado’s kids,” Ana Bustamante, Colorado’s State Manager for the nonprofit Save the Children Action Network, said in a statement, according to Save the Children Action Network. “Together, we proved that when communities unite around children’s wellbeing, we can achieve extraordinary things.”
Colorado voters have already voted to increase taxes in order to provide meals to all public school children regardless of their families’ income. In 2022, they voted in favor of taxing the same demographic to start the Healthy School Meals for All Program.
The 2022 measure helped boost school participation by 30% across the state, per the Save the Children Action Network. It also led to better student focus and attendance, as well as families feeling relief from food insecurity.
Funding from increased taxes will also go toward Colorado’s SNAP program
Leftover funding from the proposition will go towards the state’s SNAP program. Colorado estimates it will cost $50 million starting next year to uphold the initiative after cuts made by the Trump administration.
“While we celebrate this victory for Colorado kids and families, we also cannot ignore that, for thousands of Colorado families, this remains a time of deep economic hardship and food insecurity, made worse by USDA’s refusal to provide full funding for SNAP and the devastating cuts to SNAP Congress approved this past summer,” Anya Rose, the director of public policy at Hunger Free Colorado, said in a statement, according to Colorado Newsline.