Proposition MM – Increase Taxes on High-Income Households to Fully Fund Healthy School Meals

Prop FF created the Healthy School Meals for All program which took in more revenue than estimated – see Prop LL – but has unmet expenses due to higher-than-expected inflation and student participation. Three components of the program have not yet been funded: 1) use local ingredients, 2) increase school meal workers’ wages, and 3) offer infrastructure assistance. Meanwhile, the federal law H.R. 1 passed earlier this year and increased the state costs for SNAP (previously known as food stamps).

Prop FF lowered the state income tax deduction limit on households earning $300,000 “to $12,000 for single tax filers and $16,000 for joint tax filers.” Prop MM would lower the deduction limit further “to $1,000 for single tax filers and $2,000 for joint tax filers” to take in up to $95M in additional revenue to fully fund school meals. Once the Healthy School Meals program is funded, any excess up to that $95M would support SNAP.

Recommendation: TAX

About 200,000 households in Colorado, equivalent to about 6% of Colorado households, earn $300,000 or more as filers’ adjusted gross income.

Website for the Yes Side
Keep Kids Fed Colorado – https://www.yesonllandmm.com/

Website for the No Side
No known dedicated website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.


Approved Ballot Language
Proposition MM (STATUTORY)

SHALL STATE TAXES BE INCREASED BY $95 MILLION ANNUALLY BY A CHANGE TO THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD FOR COLORADO KIDS AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING THE HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL PROGRAM, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, INCREASING STATE TAXABLE INCOME ONLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A FEDERAL TAXABLE INCOME OF $300,000 OR MORE BY LIMITING ITEMIZED OR STANDARD STATE INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS TO $1,000 FOR SINGLE TAX RETURN FILERS AND $2,000 FOR JOINT TAX RETURN FILERS FOR THE PURPOSES OF FULLY FUNDING THE HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL PROGRAM TO CONTINUE PAYING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO OFFER FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TO ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WHILE ALSO INCREASING WAGES FOR EMPLOYEES WHO PREPARE AND SERVE SCHOOL MEALS, HELPING SCHOOLS USE BASIC, NUTRITIOUS INGREDIENTS, INSTEAD OF PROCESSED PRODUCTS, AND ENSURING THAT COLORADO GROWN AND RAISED PRODUCTS ARE PART OF SCHOOL MEALS; SUPPORTING THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) THAT HELPS LOW-INCOME COLORADO FAMILIES AFFORD GROCERIES; AND ALLOWING THE STATE TO RETAIN AND SPEND AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE ALL ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE GENERATED BY THESE TAX DEDUCTION CHANGES?
Changes in Income Taxes Owed by Income Category
Income Category      Proposed Change in Average Income Tax Owed
$299,999 or less      $0
$300,000 or more    +$486

YES/FOR ___
NO/AGAINST ___

HB25-1274 (Section 3) to refer Proposition MM to the voters
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1274