2006 Colorado Referendum J

Colorado law required school districts to set aside money from within the total budget for specific purposes, such as buildings, insurance, books and other school supplies, and services for "at-risk" students. These specific budgetary earmarks accounted $600 on average per student according to 2004–2005 school year figures — roughly eight percent of district operating budgets. Referendum J proposed a new requirement: each school district must spend a minimum of 65% of its operating budget on a set of budget items specified in the referendum.