With a recession on the horizon, flush times at the Capitol are nearing an end. The needs of families, roads and schools will remain.
TABOR cap
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Republicans say Colorado is hurtling toward a possible budget deficit as a dozen new state offices are created
At least a dozen new offices have been added to Colorado’s state government over the past three years, stoking Republican fears of runaway growth as the state hurtles toward a possible budget deficit. The added offices, with ambitious goals like preventing gun violence and saving people money on health care, are a sign of ballooning […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
Colorado’s state budget drives decisions that affect us all, but it’s long and complicated. We’re here to help.
Schools, roads, parks. The cost of college and health care. How much you pay in taxes. No matter what issue you care about in Colorado, chances are the state budget plays a large role in its fate. The good news: following the budget process from home is easier than ever thanks to live-streamed government meetings […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Politics and Government
Coronavirus may trigger the second-largest property tax cut in Colorado history, further crippling local budgets
At a moment when state and local governments are already drowning in red ink, Colorado’s constitution is now projected to trigger the second-largest residential property tax cut in modern history. Under forecasts presented Tuesday, Colorado lawmakers could be asked to cut residential property taxes by nearly 18% in 2021 to comply with a tax-limiting constitutional […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
For the first time, TABOR triggers an income tax rate cut. Here’s how much you can save on 2019 taxes.
Colorado is poised to return $428.3 million to taxpayers this year, but don’t look for a refund check in the mail. The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights mandates the rebate because the state exceeded the revenue limits in the 2018-19 fiscal year. The TABOR excess is so great it will force the state for the first […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
Three budget numbers that will set the tone for the 2020 legislative session in Colorado
Colorado lawmakers are adjusting to a new reality when it comes to the state budget: The boom years are over. A pair of forecasts presented Friday to state budget writers suggests the state’s economy will continue to grow, but it will come at a slower rate, which will limit discretionary government spending in the future. […]
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, 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 inEducation, Politics and Government, Transportation
Meet the million-dollar man behind Proposition CC on Colorado’s 2019 ballot
Dan Ritchie made a prophetic declaration four and a half years ago. In a conference room filled with Colorado policy leaders, the former University of Denver chancellor moderated a discussion with experts who lamented the state’s dismal rankings for spending on education, colleges and transportation. But no one had an easy solution. Out of nowhere, […]