Proposition JJ – Debruce CO from Sports Betting Limits and Keep Funding the Water Plan

In 2019 voters passed Prop DD to legalize sports betting and to authorize the first $29M in tax revenue toward the underfunded and somewhat controversial Water Plan. Under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), anything above the $29M goes back to the casinos and organizations that pay the sports betting tax. Prop JJ would debruce the state from its self-imposed $29M limit and continue directing the sports betting tax revenue to the Colorado Water Plan implementation cash fund.

From the Bell Policy Center website https://www.bellpolicy.org/2019/07/12/what-is-debrucing/: “Debrucing” is the act of eliminating the government spending limit and allowing that government to retain and spend all of the revenue it collects under existing tax rates.

Recommendation: Yes

The opponents make their standard argument that TABOR limits should be respected and refunds provided when tax revenues exceed the limits. Not being a fan of TABOR’s limits makes the Yes recommendation an easy call. Since the refunds would go to sports betting organizations, instead of individual taxpayers, the Yes recommendation is an even easier call.

In 2019 this site worried about establishing sports betting and about the Colorado Water Plan’s priorities, but neither of those topics is the main focus of this ballot measure.

Website for the Yes Side (Conserve and Protect Our Water)
https://yesonjj.com/

Website for the No Side
No known website – Info on an opposition website appreciated.


Approved Ballot Language
Proposition JJ (STATUTORY)

Without raising taxes, may the state keep and spend all sports betting tax revenue above voter-approved limits to fund water conservation and protection projects instead of refunding revenue to casinos?

YES/FOR ___
NO/AGAINST ___

HB24-1436 to refer Prop JJ to the voters
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1436