Colorado taxpayers will get a break on their income taxes and a refund payment because the state’s cap on government growth and spending under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights was exceeded last fiscal year. The income tax rate will drop to 4.5% in 2021, down from 4.55%, and individual taxpayers will get an additional sales […]
Proposition CC
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 inPolitics and Government
Here’s the top political story of 2019 and the decade in Colorado. And what to watch in 2020.
Colorado’s political landscape shifted significantly in the past year — and decade — as Democrats moved more firmly into power, backed by a transformed electorate. The new political reality led to major changes in policies and birthed a new generation of leaders on both sides of the political spectrum. To capture this scene, The Colorado […]
Posted inEducation, Politics and Government, Transportation
$10 million poured into 2019 election, but big money couldn’t push Proposition CC to passage
Advocates for Proposition CC outspent the opposition by more than double but still lost in the statewide November election. The two campaign committees behind the ballot question — Coloradans for Prosperity and Great Education Colorado — spent a combined $4.5 million on the failed effort, according to final campaign finance reports filed late last week. […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
With Proposition CC’s failure, Colorado Democrats face a budget crunch in 2020. Here are their 4 options to address it.
With the defeat of Proposition CC, voters ensured two features of Colorado state government are here to stay: Taxpayer refunds and the periodic legislative exercise in avoiding them. The 2020 budget cycle is shaping up to be no exception. The legislative session is still weeks away, and Colorado budget writers already face a daunting list […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government, Transportation
Coloradans keep rejecting statewide tax questions to fund transportation. Democrats are now eyeing a regional approach.
Coloradans have rejected statewide tax questions to pay for badly needed road improvements and repairs in back-to-back years, most recently earlier this month with Proposition CC. But Democrats are still driven to find a long-term funding pipeline to address problems like crumbling infrastructure and congestion. While their preference remains to find a catch-all fix — […]
Posted inEducation, News
Colorado wants to steer more students toward college by driving down higher education costs beyond tuition
The rising cost of a college education is a roadblock for many Colorado students, but the state’s higher education leaders are pledging to expand the possibility of getting a college degree using a new “roadmap” focused on affordability. Colorado universities and community colleges are “really the best tool we have to create opportunity for Coloradans, […]
Posted inBusiness, Education, News, Politics and Government, Transportation
In-state tuition at Colorado universities could rise up to 3% on average under governor’s budget plan
In-state tuition at Colorado’s state-run colleges and universities could rise as much as 3% on average under Gov. Jared Polis’ budget proposal presented to state lawmakers on Wednesday, leaving some alarmed about the prospect of driving up the cost of higher education. The Democrat wants to spent $147 million on higher education, up a relatively […]
Posted inUncategorized
Comparing voters to their neighbors can dramatically boost turnout. A Colorado mailer, however, really missed the mark.
Using mailers as a form of social pressure to urge people to vote is among the most effective ways of driving election turnout, studies show. The tactic, in fact, can be even more potent than door-to-door canvassing. That’s especially true when voters are told how their voting record compares to their neighbors’. Such messaging can […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: Choppy waters ahead for Colorado Democrats?
Nothing makes me geek-out quite as quickly as election returns. From the anticipation of the first wave to be posted through talking heads trying to determine when to call a race, the numbers always tell a story. So fair warning for anyone reading this column whose eyes cross over data analysis. The story told by […]