Posted inBusiness, Economy, Housing, News, Politics and Government

Colorado governor supports property tax cut measure on November ballot opposed by other Democrats

Gov. Jared Polis will vote for Proposition 120, the ballot measure that gives other Democrats pause because it would slash property tax assessment rates for multifamily residential properties and lodging properties. Polis, who stated his position Monday when asked by The Colorado Sun, didn’t elaborate on why he is voting for the proposition, which is […]

Posted inEconomy, Growth, Housing, News, Politics and Government

Proposition 120: Voters will decide if Colorado property taxes will go down — at least for some

Colorado’s residential property taxes are already among the nation’s lowest, but a measure on the 2021 statewide ballot would drop them ever lower — for some.  Proposition 120 would, if approved by voters, reduce the property tax assessment rates for multifamily housing to 6.5% from 7.15% starting in 2022. If you owned affected property valued […]

Posted inNews, Politics and Government

Amendment 78: Colorado voters will decide if lawmakers should have more oversight of state spending

A measure on Colorado’s November ballot asks voters to change the way the state approves spending money from the federal government, legal settlements and other non-state sources. Amendment 78 would require the Colorado General Assembly to determine how the state uses what it defines as “custodial money,” funding the state receives from outside sources for […]

Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government

Group files 11th-hour lawsuit seeking to block one of three questions on Colorado’s statewide ballot this year

The head of a liberal-leaning fiscal policy organization and a Summit County commissioner filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to block one of three statewide measures set to appear on the November ballot, arguing the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office inappropriately approved the question and that any votes for it shouldn’t be counted.  Scott Wasserman, of […]

Posted inEconomy, News, Politics and Government

Colorado Democrats want to use one of TABOR’s most effective tax-halting mechanisms for themselves

One of the most effective parts of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights when it comes to stopping tax-raising ballot questions in Colorado is a requirement that voters be informed, IN CAPITAL LETTERS, about the eye-popping sum they are deciding whether to allow the government to collect. “SHALL STATE TAXES BE INCREASED $766,700,000 ANNUALLY FOR A […]

Posted inBusiness, Economy, Growth, Housing, News, Politics and Government

Colorado’s stagnant budget isn’t helping the shrinking middle class, report finds

Colorado’s middle class is shrinking, and the lifestyle long associated with it — home ownership, a car, college savings and occasional vacations — is getting harder to achieve.  That’s been the economic trend in the state, and across the country, for decades. But new research suggests Colorado’s public investments — or lack of them — […]

Posted inEducation, News

CU Boulder struggles to enroll low-income students. That has consequences for Coloradans’ social mobility.

Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado Despite modest gains over the last decade, the University of Colorado Boulder still ranks near the bottom of the list of flagship public universities in enrollment of low-income students.   The percentage of Pell Grant recipients at the university moved from 12% in 2008 to 16% a decade later, ranking Boulder as […]

Posted inBusiness, Election 2020, Politics and Government

Proposition 116 explained: Colorado must decide whether an income tax cut is worth a hit to state budget

A measure on the 2020 ballot in Colorado proposes a permanent cut to the state’s income tax rate that would give the average taxpayer a $37 break annually. The limited-government conservatives and Republican lawmakers backing Proposition 116 say the tax relief comes at a crucial moment amid the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus. The […]

Posted inElection 2020, Politics and Government

Proposition 117 explained: Colorado voters would have more control over government fees

It’s the rare point of bipartisan agreement in Colorado politics where public spending is concerned: Since the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights took effect in 1992, state lawmakers have increasingly turned to fees to fund government operations. But how you feel about that development, depends on your politics. To the left, it’s an unfortunate side effect […]