Denver DownBallot Nov 3, 2026 ballot measures · Denver

Statewide

Amendment 87Graduated Income Tax

UNRESOLVED: Amendment 87: vote threshold as printed

Amendment 87 proposes amending the Colorado Constitution. The Blue Book prints “Passes with a majority vote” for Amendment 87, while the other constitutional amendments on this ballot (81–86) are printed as requiring 55 percent. The SOS measures page entry for Amendment 87 does not state a threshold. This guide reports the threshold as printed and has not resolved the difference.

Official ballot title

SHALL STATE TAXES BE INCREASED $2.7 BILLION ANNUALLY, IN ORDER TO INCREASE OR IMPROVE LEVELS OF PUBLIC SERVICES, INCLUDING K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND EARLY CHILD CARE AND EDUCATION SERVICES, BY AN AMENDMENT TO THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION AND A CHANGE TO THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES REPEALING EXISTING LAW AND CREATING NEW LAW TO REPLACE THE UNIFORM STATE INCOME TAX RATE WITH A GRADUATED INCOME TAX STRUCTURE, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AMENDING THE TAXPAYER’S BILL OF RIGHTS TO ELIMINATE THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR ALL TAXABLE NET INCOME TO BE TAXED AT ONE RATE WITH NO ADDED TAX ON INCOME; ESTABLISHING VARIOUS INCOME TAX RATES BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF TAXABLE INCOME EARNED BY INDIVIDUALS, ESTATES, TRUSTS, AND CORPORATIONS, WHILE MAINTAINING THE CURRENT 4.4% TAX ON INCOME FROM THE SALE OF A PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE, WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE ESTIMATED CHANGE IN INCOME TAXES OWED BY INDIVIDUALS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING TABLE; AND AUTHORIZING THE STATE TO RETAIN AND SPEND ANY INCREASED REVENUE FROM THE NEW TAX STRUCTURE, AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE, TO SUPPLEMENT CURRENT LEVELS OF FUNDING FOR K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND EARLY CHILD CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS?

Verbatim from: Amendments and Propositions on the 2026 Ballot (Colorado Secretary of State)

Summary

Replaces Colorado’s single flat income tax rate with graduated rates, and directs the added revenue to K-12 education, health care, and early childhood programs, exempt from the state revenue limit.

Plain-language summary written for this guide from the sources below.

What a YES vote does

A “yes” vote on Amendment 87 creates a graduated state income tax that increases revenue; uses the additional money for K-12 education, health care, and early childhood care and education; and exempts additional revenue collected from the state’s constitutional revenue limit.

What a NO vote does

A “no” vote on Amendment 87 keeps the current constitutional requirement for a flat state income tax rate.

Official text from the Blue Book (“What Your Vote Means”).

How it got on the ballot

Placed on the ballot by
Citizen initiative (Initiative #195)
Vote needed to pass
As printed in the Blue Book: “Passes with a majority vote.” (UNRESOLVED — see notice)The SOS measures page entry for Amendment 87 does not print a threshold. See the unresolved notice on this page.

Official fiscal information

  • The ballot title on the SOS page is followed by a table of estimated changes in average income taxes owed by income category; see the SOS page.
  • Increases state income tax revenue by an estimated $958.4 million in budget year 2026-27 (half-year impact) and $1.972 billion in 2027-28. (Estimated)
  • Maximum dollar amount of the change for 2027-28, accounting for forecast error, is estimated as an increase of $2.7 billion (the figure in the ballot title). (Estimated)
  • Decreases income tax owed by taxpayers with Colorado taxable income of less than $510,834 and increases it for those at $510,834 and above. (Estimated)
  • One-time Department of Revenue administrative cost: $98,000. (Estimated)

From the official source’s fiscal section. Figures marked “(Estimated)” are estimates or projections in the source.

Sources