Colorado proposes using ‘cannabis cash’ to get kids in kindergarten this upcoming school year

Emma Spears - thegrowthop.com Posted 5 years ago
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Legislators in Colorado are getting creative when it comes to covering the expansion of the full-day kindergarten program this upcoming school year. Looks like the answer to getting kids in kindergarten might be cannabis cash.

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Lawmakers are proposing to foot the bill for much-needed supplies and equipment with cannabis tax money to help infuse state schools with the estimated USD$25 million needed in startup costs to furnish schools with the necessities to accommodate the program.

The money is primarily expected to be delivered to underfunded rural school districts, and those with little room left in already-tight budgets to manage the influx of students and extended hours.

The proposal is a piece of a bipartisan bill that would inject USD$125 million into the struggling school system. The government also intends to garner funds from the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) fund, which is already partially funded by state cannabis taxes for the purpose of school construction.

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Gov. Jared Polis’ full-day kindergarten project is estimated to cost at least $175 million over the next fiscal year.

As a condition of cannabis legalization, Colorado has transferred a yearly USD$40 million into the BEST fund, which also accepts revenue from other state resources such as the lottery. But tax revenues have far exceeded projections, and the unexpected income has been a source of confusion and controversy.

The bill received approval from the house in a 56-8 vote on April 19 and is now headed to the Senate. Gov. Jared Polis’ full-day kindergarten project is estimated to cost at least $175 million over the next fiscal year.

 

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