El Paso County commissioners unanimously back resolution opposing Propositions LL and MM on school‑meal funding

The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 28 adopted a resolution opposing Propositions LL and MM, ballot measures that would change funding and TABOR treatment for the Healthy School Meals for All program.

Ryan Parcel, the county’s executive director for government affairs, summarized the measures for the board: Proposition MM (as described in county materials) would increase taxes on high‑income households (those earning above $300,000) to generate additional revenue for the Healthy School Meals for All program; Proposition LL would allow the state to keep revenue above the TABOR cap and expand permissible uses of that revenue. Parcel told commissioners the combined effect would let the state retain roughly $12 million that is currently capped under TABOR and could generate an estimated additional $95 million annually under the proposed tax increase.

Commissioners framed their opposition around duplication of existing federal free‑and‑reduced‑price school‑meal mechanisms and concerns about state budget priorities and TABOR principles. Commissioner Lauren Nelson prepared a slide for the board explaining the county’s position and commissioners voiced concerns that the measures would expand government spending and remove TABOR constraints. Vice Chair Holly Williams and other commissioners said they had already cast “no” votes on their mail ballots. Several commissioners described the measures as poor fiscal policy and urged voters to consider existing federal programs.

Commissioner Nelson moved approval of the resolution; the motion was seconded and the board approved it by roll call, 4‑0. The county clerk attested the vote.

The resolution is a policy position of the El Paso County Board and not a binding change to state law; commissioners urged residents to review ballot language and consider the fiscal and policy tradeoffs before voting.