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 […]
tax policy
Posted inBusiness, Education, Election 2020, Health, Outdoors, Politics and Government
Colorado 2020 election: A quick guide to the ballot questions on abortion, wolves, taxes, sick leave and more
Colorado voters will decide 11 statewide policy questions on the November ballot — a list of far-reaching measures that will help set the direction for the state’s future. The 2020 ballot asks voters whether Colorado should put limits on abortion and create a state program designed to provide paid time off to workers for medical […]
Posted inElection 2020, Politics and Government
Amendment B explained: What repealing the Gallagher Amendment would mean for Colorado and your property taxes
For the second straight year, Colorado voters face a choice on a complicated tax question that could have major implications for generations to come in terms of public services and taxpayers’ wallets. This time, the matter at hand is whether to repeal the Gallagher Amendment, a constitutional provision that has had more impact on Colorado […]
Posted inBusiness, Election 2020, Politics and Government
Amendment B puts spotlight on Gallagher’s mixed legacy of budget cuts, tax relief and inequality in Colorado
If you live in the Denver metro area, you can be forgiven if the panic surrounding the Gallagher Amendment sounds like utter nonsense. “What tax cuts?” a homeowner may ask. Gallagher has saved Colorado residents $2.8 billion in property taxes last year alone, but in the metro area, homeowners continue to see their property tax […]
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 inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Colorado’s gateways to public lands need help from Congress
Like many parts of the country, Chaffee County has been hit hard by the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19. The spring is a busy time here as an influx of tourism and visitation to our incredible public lands buoy our economy as well as the county’s budget, but we’re missing out on much of […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
Colorado spared more budget cuts for now, but an additional $1 billion in reductions looms on 2021 horizon
No further budget cuts are immediately necessary as an economic forecast from the Polis administration shows a series of tax changes approved by Colorado lawmakers generated enough revenue to preserve the state’s slim budget cushion. Gov. Jared Polis’ office says a new economic forecast shows that tax revenue will allow the state to carry a […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Crime and Courts, Education, Environment, Health, News, Politics and Government
Chaos and compromise: Colorado’s coronavirus legislative session ends with a flurry of big bills
The Colorado Capitol was mostly empty as the state legislature took a two-month coronavirus pause this spring. The work, though, didn’t actually stop. Behind the scenes, mostly via video calls on Zoom, lawmakers were figuring out how to deal with a host of new issues related to the pandemic, chief among them: how to balance […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Democrats pare back bill eliminating tax breaks to reach accord with governor, business interests
Democrats in the Colorado legislature Saturday evening reached a deal with Gov. Jared Polis and business interests on legislation to eliminate a number of tax breaks and recoup money for education that was lost because of the economy’s coronavirus downturn. The result is a significantly pared back version of the original legislation, House Bill 1420, […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Education, Health, News, Politics and Government
10 major issues being decided in the final hours of Colorado’s 2020 legislative session
Spirited debates about tax increases and school-required vaccinations, and policies to end police brutality have dominated the final days of Colorado’s coronavirus legislative session, expected to soon reach its last gavel. But lawmakers also decided on dozens of other proposals that will affect everything from their own salaries to whether Coloradans can keep ordering to-go […]