C.R.S.
Section 22-41.5-101
Legislative declaration
(1)
The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:(a)
In performing its duties under sections 2 and 15 of article IX, section 20 of article X, and section 6 of article XI of the state constitution, the general assembly must balance the interests of achieving a thorough and uniform public school system, controlling public debt, preserving a limited degree of local control, and reasonably restraining most the growth of government;(b)
In balancing these constitutional interests through the exercise of its legislative authority, the general assembly has enacted limitations on the ability of school districts to incur indebtedness;(c)
A statutory restriction has been imposed on the amount of bonded indebtedness that school districts can incur with voter approval for capital improvements;(d)
From time to time, changes to such limitations imposed on school districts are necessary in order to keep these constitutional interests properly balanced in light of changing circumstances;(e)
Section 20 (1) of article X of the state constitution prohibits the weakening of “other limits on district revenue, spending, and debt” without future voter approval;(f)
No change in school district debt occurs by virtue of statutory changes that increase a limit when the debt would not actually increase without school district voter approval and any actual weakening occurs only when school district voter approval is obtained under an increased limit; and(g)
By requiring voters to give approval at the school district level for any weakening of a school district limit on debt, the voter approval requirement of section 20 (1) of article X is satisfied in a manner achieving a reasonable result through legislative harmonization of constitutional provisions.
Source:
Section 22-41.5-101 — Legislative declaration, https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-22.pdf (accessed May 26, 2025).
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