Vote 2024: A Highschooler's Guide - Proposition 130, Funding for Law Enforcement in Colorado

Update: Passed

 52.8% YES

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Proposition 130, on the ballot for Colorado voters in November 2024, directs the state legislature to allocate $350 million to support local law enforcement. This funding would be used to help municipal and county agencies hire and retain officers and provide pay increases, bonuses, and training. It would also create a $1 million death benefit for families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

What Does Proposition 130 Do?

The measure requires the Colorado legislature to set aside $350 million for local law enforcement agencies, to be distributed by the Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS). The funds can be used for:

• Increasing officer salaries

• Providing bonuses for recruitment and retention

• Hiring additional officers to address specific crime areas

• Ongoing officer training

• A one-time $1 million death benefit for the families of fallen officers

What Your Vote Means 

A yes vote on Proposition 130 directs the state to provide $350 million in additional funding to local law enforcement agencies to improve officer recruitment and retention, and requires the state to provide a one-time $1 million death benefit to the family of each state and local law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty.

 A no vote on Proposition 130 will continue current levels of funding for local law enforcement agencies, and families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty will continue to receive existing benefits provided by current law. 

Fiscal Impact

Proposition 130 mandates $350 million in state spending, which will be distributed over several years. A portion of the funds will be used for grant administration, while the obligation to provide death benefits, estimated at $4 million per year, will continue indefinitely.

Conclusion

Proposition 130 aims to bolster local law enforcement by providing significant funding for hiring, retention, training, and support, including a new death benefit for families of fallen officers. However, debates center on whether this increased funding will lead to safer communities and whether it aligns with broader public safety priorities.