Prior contributors and allies helped Support Schools for a Bright Colorado raise funds for its final push in support of Proposition 103.
Support Schools, the main group backing the proposed increase in state tax rates, raised $187,093 in the Oct. 13-26 reporting period, according to a report filed with the Department of State late Monday.
That brings the committee’s total fundraising to $607,054. The group started running TV ads in mid-October, and its $354,664 of spending in the most recent period went primarily to advertising.
The group spent $14,244 with Putnam Partners, an advertising production firm, and a firm named MSR, both of Arlington, Va.
Major contributors in the most recent period include:
- The Gary Williams Co., an energy firm – $50,000 for a cumulative campaign total of $250,000
- Colorado Education Association – $25,000 for a total of $75,000
- The Colorado Center on Law and Policy, a Denver think tank – $70,000
- American Federation of Teachers – $12,500 for a total of $16,580
- Impact on Education, a Boulder County foundation – $5,000 for a total of $12,500
- George K. Baum & Co., a bond firm – $2,000 for total of $3,000
- Greg Stevinson, Jefferson County developer and former Colorado Commission on Higher Education member – $2,500
Two other supporting groups also reported their latest contributions on Monday.
Great Education Colorado Action, an arm of Great Education Colorado, now has raised $4,967 and spent $1,812. It also reported $14,967 in non-monetary contributions for staff time spent campaigning.
The Policy Action Fund, part of of the Center on Law and Policy, reported a total of $4,700 in contributions and $1,699 in spending. It listed $39,645 in non-monetary contributions for staff time.
Two opposition groups reported little change in their fundraising.
Save Colorado Jobs reported total contributions of $10,270 and spending of $8,700.
Too Taxing for Colorado listed contributions of $14,817 and spending of $11,814.
A third group, Compass Colorado, has been campaigning against Prop. 103 but is structured in such a way that it’s not required to file campaign finance reports.
PROPOSITION 103
Provisions
- State income tax rate would rise to 5 percent from 4.63 percent
- State sales tax rate would go to 3 percent from 2.9 percent
- New rates are same as those in effect in 1999
- Higher rates would end in 2017
Revenue use
- Proposition would raise an estimated $3 billion over five years
- Additional revenue could be spent only on preschool programs, K-12 schools and state colleges and universities
- Legislature would decide how to split revenues
- Spending would have to be in addition to levels of 2011-12
Resources