One of the most persistent misrepresentations about TABOR is that Colorado’s schools are terrible and it’s all TABOR’s fault. But are Colorado’s schools terrible? And how do they compare to Maine’s? A few basic facts:
1. Since Colorado’s TABOR was adopted in 1992, per-child K-12 spending has roughly doubled – from $4,806.00 to $8,514.00 in 2006-2007 (the last year for which we have data).
2. Over the same period, Maine’s spending per-child has nearly tripled – from $5,631.00 to $12,985.00. Maine’s per-child spending, by the way, is among the highest in the nation.
But are Maine’s educational results better than Colorado’s? Given the substantial difference in K-12 funding – nearly one-third higher in 2006-2007 – we should expect to see much better learning results.
But we don’t – Maine’s results are no better than Colorado’s and in some categories they’re worse. About the best we can say is that it’s a wash. For a side-by-side comparison, go here.
Ask yourself a couple of questions: how has TABOR harmed Colorado’s schools and what do Mainers get for all the extra spending?
And why should we listen to those who constantly bemoan Colorado?
For more on Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, please visit the TABORNOW website.
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