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Tax reform and school spending were among the state ballot measures that went before voters Nov. 2. Bold indicates the measure passed.
| State | Initiative | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Amendment 2 Would have eliminated language in state constitution that requires “separate schools … for white and colored children.” Would also have struck clause that says “no child of either race shall be permitted to attend a school of the other race.” | FAIL** |
| **Unofficial results in Alabama showed a virtual tie on Amendment 2. State law will require a recount if the difference is less than 0.5 percent when provisional and absentee ballots are counted this week. | ||
| Arkansas | Referred Question 1 Referred by legislature, measure would have increased property-tax rate by 3 mills—or 3 cents for every $100 in assessed value—to pay for public schools. | FAIL |
| California | Proposition 1A Will allow local property and sales taxes to remain under the control of local governments, and will generally prevent state from shifting to schools or community colleges state tax revenues allocated to local governments. Proposition may be suspended if governor declares a fiscal emergency and two-thirds of legislature agrees. | PASS |
| Colorado | Amendment 35 Increases cigarette tax to 84 cents a pack—a 64-cent increase—and raises tax on other tobacco products to 40 percent of purchase price, double the current rate. Sixteen percent of resulting revenue will be spent on education about harms of tobacco and on programs to help smokers quit. | PASS |
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| Florida | Amendment 1 Authorizes legislature to pass law requiring parental notification when a teenager seeks an abortion. | PASS |
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| Indiana | Question 1 Gives legislature power to exempt certain property from taxes, including a person’s primary residence, and personal property used to generate income. | PASS |
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| Louisiana | Amendment No. 2 Expands existing property-tax exemptions on primary residences. | PASS |
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| Maine | Question 1 Citizen-initiated measure would have capped property taxes at 1 percent of assessed value and rolled back property values to 1996-97 levels. | FAIL |
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| Missouri | Amendment 3 Requires that revenue from motor-vehicle sales taxes and fuel taxes be spent on local highways, roads, and bridges. Some of that revenue has helped pay for schools. | PASS |
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| Nevada | Question 1 “Education First” ballot question forces legislature to allocate money to schools before deciding how much to spend on other state projects. | PASS |
| Question 2 Would have amended state constitution to require that Nevada finance schools at or above average national per-pupil expenditure, starting in 2012-13 school year. | FAIL | |
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| New Mexico | Amendment 5 Changes name of New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped to New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. | PASS |
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| North Carolina | Amendment 2 Amends state constitution to allow legislature to tap money from fines and civil penalties to help pay for public schools. | PASS |
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| Oklahoma | Question 705 and 706: Creates state lottery and dedicates the proceeds to education. | PASS |
| Question 712 Enacts new Model Tribal Gaming Compact that changes the types of gaming allowed on tribal land and directs portions of the proceeds to education. | PASS | |
| South Dakota | Amendment B Would have amended state constitution to permit state to pay for food and transportation for students who attend religious schools. | FAIL |
| Measure 1 Would have exempted food purchases from state and local sales taxes. | FAIL | |
| Washington | Referendum 55 Would have authorized the state’s charter school law, which was passed by the legislature in March but was suspended due to a citizens’ petition. | FAIL |
| Initiative 884 Would have raised state sales tax to 7.5 percent— 1 percentage point higher than current level. Estimated $1 billion in new revenue would have financed preschool, K-12 programs, higher education scholarships and research, and increases in teacher salaries. | FAIL | |
| SOURCE: Education Week | ||
