The Sheraton Denver Downtown hotel, nearing the completion of its $80 million renovation, is operating at about a quarter of its usual capacity. Business in the time of the coronavirus has picked up a bit from the disastrous early months, but even if a vaccine were announced tomorrow, the hotel doesn’t expect to get back […]
Bell Policy Center
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Colorado voters may face as many as 11 major questions on November ballot as initiative deadline arrives
Colorado voters appear poised to decide as many as nine major issues on the November ballot — but far fewer than initially expected after the coronavirus made it difficult to qualify. So far, seven measures are set for the ballot. And the organizers behind four more initiatives said they submitted more than the 124,632 valid […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
Now that Colorado lawmakers have put Gallagher repeal on the ballot, will they actually be able to pass it?
When the General Assembly two years ago agreed to study the state’s dysfunctional property tax code, reform advocates were optimistic that years of warnings would finally lead to action. A bipartisan panel came up with a variety of options to repeal and replace the Gallagher Amendment, the constitutional measure that for decades has squeezed essential […]
Posted inEducation, Politics and Government
TABOR repeal is off the table for 2020. Now it’s Initiative 271, a $2 billion tax hike targeting the wealthy
A coalition pushing to overhaul Colorado’s tax system will not pursue a complete repeal of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights this year, opting instead for a ballot measure in November that would generate billions in new money with higher taxes on the wealthy. The new initiative — which is expected to receive final legal approval […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns, Politics and Government
Opinion: How do we fix Colorado’s unfair tax system? It depends on who pays.
I know you’re tired of hearing about Colorado’s public funding needs, but as they continue to fester, we don’t have the luxury of ignoring them. No amount of arguing fiscal statistics ad nauseam (which we’ve done for years) changes the bottom line: In real dollars, adjusted for population, our state spends little more than it […]
Posted inBusiness, Growth, Health, News, Politics and Government
As Coloradans grow older, there’s a push for policies that benefit all ages
Janine Vanderburg led 42 workshops across the state in 2018 to learn about the concerns older adults had about aging or ageism. One issue became clear. Adults were working longer — and wanted to — but they often felt discrimination in the workplace or during the hiring process. “People said, ‘That workplace discrimination issue that […]
Posted inBusiness, Education, Politics and Government, Transportation
The next fiscal fight in Colorado starts now: A bid to repeal TABOR and one to raise taxes on top earners
Colorado voters rejected a bid to remove the spending caps in the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights — but the fiscal fight is only expected to get more intense in the next year. One interest group is considering a repeal of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights and another is testing ideas for a graduated tax system […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
The political stakes for Proposition CC are huge. It’s a test case for a major fiscal overhaul in Colorado.
This November, Proposition CC will ask Colorado voters to permanently lift the spending limits in the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, but the political stakes embedded in the question are even more consequential. The ballot question represents the most significant overhaul to TABOR since voters approved the constitutional provision in 1992, and serves as a test […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
Is Colorado’s 2019 ballot question about TABOR spending caps really a tax hike? The answer is sort of.
Both sides see the answer to one question as critical to their chances at the 2019 ballot box: Is Proposition CC a tax hike? The referred measure to eliminate the state’s revenue cap this November represents the biggest fight over the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights since voters added it to the Colorado constitution in 1992. […]
Posted inEducation, Politics and Government
Worried about slowing economy, Democrats look to delay Polis pledge for full-day kindergarten
A slowing economy coupled with a backlog of unmet needs have left top Democratic lawmakers hesitant to fully fund all-day kindergarten, setting the stage for a possible budget fight with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis over one of his signature campaign promises. The disconnect between Polis and legislative Democrats reflects the difficulty of adding public programs […]