Gonzalez: Colorado’s TABOR Amendment serving taxpayers well

January 7, 2025 By Rep. Ryan Gonzalez

In 1992, Colorado voters passed the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, the nation’s strongest tax limitation law to this day. For those who are unfamiliar what TABOR really does, this amendment to the Colorado Constitution allows government spending to reasonably increase using a formula of population growth plus inflation. Excess revenue, known as the “TABOR surplus,” must be refunded to taxpayers. If state government wants to keep the surplus, or raise taxes, voters must approve. That is exactly why progressives abhor TABOR. But the truth is, a little north of 60% of Colorado voters approve of TABOR.

Many progressives have made their disdain for TABOR be known, having tried time and time again to chip away at TABOR’s taxpayer protections. And in many ways, they’ve done so; mostly by adding tax credits which pull from the TABOR surplus. They’ve done so by giving everyone equal tax refunds and redistributing wealth; taking from those who paid the most in state taxes and giving more to those who paid little.

In 2022, the Democrat majority, just before a critical midterm election, gave taxpayers what they called the “Colorado cash back” in disguise as a “stimulus” check. What they didn’t tell you is that it was actually your TABOR refund, just early and proportioned against historical distribution.

Progressives blame TABOR for lack of funding for roads, education, and healthcare. But they do not acknowledge the wasteful spending on failing and inadequate programs, agencies, and pet projects, such as “Office of transitioning jobs” and “Office of saving people money on healthcare.” They won’t ask taxpayers for more of their hard-earned money because most times it fails, and they intend on repealing TABOR if they ever reach a veto-proof majority in the state legislature.

TABOR has served as a check and balance on government spending, and a valuable taxpayer protection. The Colorado Democratic Party’s platform includes repealing TABOR. If you don’t believe me, look at their website.

The truth is, as more people learn about TABOR, the more they view it favorably. Without TABOR, we would be facing higher taxes, little to no tax refunds, and a government with unlimited spending power.

The progressives favorite way around TABOR is by creating new “fees,” which can be implemented and raised without voter approval; a workaround that has been supported by our state Supreme Court. This is partially why voters have been chipping away at the state income tax rate at the ballot box over time. While it decreases the TABOR refunds, people prefer to have more of their money when it’s time to pay taxes.

At a time when we face a budget deficit, the legislature must acknowledge that although this state is socially liberal, it is still fiscally center-right. Failing to acknowledge this, progressives will face the consequences. TABOR benefits those most in need of relief, those of low income.

Repealing TABOR will place the burden on low-income residents who will pay more in taxes at a time when they need relief. Voters in my Northern Colorado House District 50 love TABOR and know well the implications should Democrats manage to abolish it.

They have a message for the majority: hands off our tax refunds and leave TABOR alone!

Rep. Ryan Gonzalez, R-Greeley, represents House District 50, which encompasses the eastern half of Greeley and the cities of Evans and Garden City in Northern Colorado.

Gonzalez: Colorado’s TABOR Amendment serving taxpayers well – Complete Colorado