Colorado voters to decide on funding for school meal program
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This November, Colorado voters will decide whether people earning more than $300,000 a year should pay more to ensure that the state’s Healthy School Meals for All program is fully funded.
The program serves 6,000 meals each day, significantly more than what was expected when it was passed by voters in 2022.
Ana Bustamante, Colorado state manager with the Save the Children Action Network, said it’s hard for anyone to be productive on an empty stomach, and school meals are the most nutritious food many kids get all day.
"We know that that leads to kids learning better," said Bustamante, "having better participation at school, less behavioral issues, improved grades, stronger graduation rates."
If voters approve Proposition LL on the November ballot, the state will be able to keep tax revenue already collected for the program. Proposition MM, which would increase taxes for about 6 percent of Colorado’s top earners, was recently amended in a special legislative session.
It will also allow the state to use any overflow tax revenue to soften the blow of cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food assistance under the Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. People earning over $300,000 per year received permanent federal tax cuts in the same bill.
Roy Chrobocinski, managing director of federal domestic policy with Save the Children’s national office, said 14 million children living in households with incomes below the poverty line don’t know where their next meal will come from.
He said programs like Healthy School Meals for All can be a lifeline for families.
"We’ve seen food insecurity rise for three straight years," said Chrobocinski. "Right now, across the U.S., about 47 million people – including one in five children – don’t have access to adequate food."
Eight in ten Coloradans across party lines support Healthy School Meals for All. Bustamante said the program also helps strengthen the state’s food system by dedicating funds for schools to buy fresh, healthy food directly from local producers.
"Not only are we supporting the schools," said Bustamante, "we are also strengthening our local economy by getting food directly from Colorado farmers and ranchers."
