Category Archives: Ballot Initiative

Apr 01

Democrats roll out tax and TABOR reform plan

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Democrats roll out tax and TABOR reform plan to remake state finances, calling for “a reckoning”
Colorado lawmakers float legal challenge that, if successful, could kill TABOR outright

A group of Colorado lawmakers has unveiled a plan to fundamentally change state tax policy and attempt to eliminate the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR.

The plan, announced Monday afternoon by Democratic legislators, includes reclassifying chunks of Colorado highway funding so it doesn’t fall under the TABOR spending cap, which would free up money for other things. They also hope to end Colorado’s flat income tax and replace it with a system in which higher-income taxpayers pay higher rates than low-income filers.

Lawmakers also introduced a resolution Monday that seeks to launch a lawsuit challenging the legality of TABOR, which was passed by Colorado voters in 1992, under the U.S. Constitution.

“The state is coming to a reckoning on whether we can sustain ourselves,” said Sean Camacho, a Denver Democrat. “And all of these measures are critical to figuring that out.”

The lawsuit resolution has attracted a roster of co-sponsors, including some top legislative leaders. The proposals come as Colorado faces a budget hole of more than $1 billion because of the cap set by TABOR.

TABOR limits how much state spending can grow based on inflation and population growth. Certain sectors of government spending, chiefly mandatory Medicaid costs, have far outstripped the pace of consumer inflation, effectively eating into how much the state can spend on nonmandatory programs.

To read the rest of this article, click (HERE) to go to the Denver Post.

Mar 29

Ballooning Medicaid costs, TABOR limits expose flaws in Colorado’s big government spending spree

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Ballooning Medicaid costs, TABOR limits expose flaws in Colorado’s big government spending spree

By Rocky Mountain Voice Editorial Board / March 28, 2025 /

By Rocky Mountain Voice Editorial Board

After years of overreach and unchecked government growth, Colorado lawmakers are now scrambling to plug a $1.2 billion hole in the state budget — a crisis largely of their own making.

Colorado budget writers voted Wednesday night to finalize a 2025–26 budget plan that slashes transportation funding, eliminates programs, and kicks key decisions down the road — all while Medicaid spending surges out of control.

Despite the so-called “cuts,” the budget still grows to over $16 billion. But massive increases in Medicaid — particularly long-term care for seniors and the disabled — are eating up the budget at an unsustainable pace. Democrat lawmakers admit the problem is only getting worse. “Next year, I see our fiscal challenges compounding,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, vice chair of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), during a hearing.

Conservatives argue this crisis is a direct result of failed progressive governance: endless new programs, expensive mandates, and refusal to address structural overspending.

TABOR Targeted Again

Once again, the state’s taxpayer protections — the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) — are being blamed by Democrats for the budget woes. TABOR limits government growth to population plus inflation, requiring refunds to citizens when revenue exceeds the cap.

Instead of thanking taxpayers for Colorado’s booming economy, JBC Chair Sen. Jeff Bridges (D-Greenwood Village) criticized TABOR: “When the economy is booming and the state is tightening its belt, that just doesn’t make sense,” he told The Colorado Sun. “It’s like, ‘why are you making these cuts?’ And the answer is TABOR.”

But to fiscal conservatives, it makes perfect sense. TABOR keeps the government from ballooning during economic highs and forces legislators to prioritize. That’s not dysfunction — it’s accountability.

Click (HERE) to read the rest of this editorial.

Mar 16

The New Property Tax Revolt Is About Freedom

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Barry Poulson

Barry Poulson | Mar 15, 2025

Most citizens make a rationale choice in purchasing a home. As the late Thomas Sowell said, “an affordable home is a home you can afford.” For much of our history, home ownership was the most important decision that citizens made to accumulate wealth over their lifetime. Paying off one’s mortgage was a lifetime event, allowing citizens to retire in comfort. But today, many citizens are losing the dream of home ownership.

Unlike other taxes, property taxes give citizens freedom of choice in deciding to invest in a home. Citizens can compare the government services offered relative to the property taxes they must pay in different jurisdictions. And citizens can vote with their feet, moving to a jurisdiction that matches their preferences. Since a large share of property taxes are earmarked for education, citizens can compare the quality of schools and the property taxes in different school districts.

But, high rates of inflation distort the rational choices that citizens make in investing in a home. Since 2020, citizens have been hit with a double whammy. Higher interest rates and higher home prices have priced many citizens out of the housing market. Citizens who own a home are often left with the choice of selling their home and downsizing to a home they can afford. But homeowners ask the obvious question, why should I have to sell my home simply because the government has failed to stabilize prices?

To continue reading this article, please click (HERE) to go to the website

Mar 03

What is TABOR: The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights? – Advance Colorado Rundown

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Advance Colorado Executive Vice President Kristi Burton Brown gives a brief history and explanation of Colorado’s unique taxpayer protection: the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. This revenue cap limits the state government’s ability to spend taxpayer dollars and requires refunds to be sent to Coloradans when the government collects beyond the limit.

What is TABOR: The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights? – Advance Colorado Rundown – Advance Colorado Rundown – Omny.fm

Feb 16

A New Property Tax Revolt

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February 15, 2025

A New Property Tax Revolt

By Barry W. Poulson

It has been half a century since Howard Jarvis launched the first property tax revolt with Prop 13 in California. Since then, forty-six states and the District of Columbia have enacted some form of property tax limitation. Some of these measures have proven to be effective, but others are poorly designed and ineffective.

It is not surprising that a new property tax revolt has been launched. Many property owners had sticker shock this year when they got their property tax bills. I am one of the unfortunate sods in Colorado who have seen the property tax on their homes more than double in recent years. Many less fortunate souls on fixed incomes have literally been taxed out of their homes.

The explanation for the discontinuous increase in property taxes today is the same as that during the first property tax revolt in the 1970s. In those years double-digit inflation was accompanied by discontinuous increases in property taxes. Inflation rates recently peaked at 9 percent and have remained well above the target inflation rates set by the Federal Reserve. Increased housing costs are one of the major contributors to this higher rate of inflation. Higher home prices today also reflect the expensive and time-consuming regulations imposed by state and local governments on home construction.

Even in a state such as Colorado, with an effective tax and expenditure limit, homeowners have not been protected from the ravages of inflation. Colorado has experienced one of the highest rates of increase in home prices in the nation. Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) limits the amount of property tax revenue that local governments can keep and spend. TABOR also requires voter approval for any new tax or increase in tax rates; but it does not cap the amount of property taxes that individual homeowners must pay. TABOR has not shielded homeowners from increased property taxes due to rising property values and other state and local measures designed to increase collections. The Colorado Legislature will hold a special session this year to address the problem of higher property tax burdens.

Click (HERE) to continue reading this story.

 

Jan 09

Gonzalez: Colorado’s TABOR Amendment serving taxpayers well

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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. Continue reading →

Dec 08

BUSTED: Major Colorado Charity Gave $20,000 to Raise Taxes & Eliminate TABOR during 2024 Election!

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Dec 7, 2024 COLORADO

List of Real Pro-Liberty Colorado organizations: https://freestatecolorado.com/jeffco-… It’s the time of the year when Coloradans generously open their wallets to support charities across the State. However, one of Colorado’s largest charitable organizations gave $20,000 to a political committee that helped raise taxes in Jefferson County by $66 million this year! The Colorado Gives Foundation, which runs Colorado Gives Day, brings in around $500,000,000 yearly, and 3,7000 charitable organizations rely on them to help raise money! However, Liberty-minded Coloradans need to know that this organization is responsible for one of the worst assaults on the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) that we saw this year. In this video, Natalie Menten provides the details with tax documents, Secretary of State reports and more!

Nov 01

Article X, Section 20. The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights

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If you see this on your ballot, you are voting for a TAX INCREASE!

“Ballot titles for tax or bonded debt increases shall begin, “SHALL (DISTRICT) TAXES BE INCREASED (first, or if phased in, final, full fiscal year dollar increase) ANNUALLY…?” or “SHALL (DISTRICT) DEBT BE INCREASED (principal amount), WITH A REPAYMENT COST OF (maximum total district cost), …?”

https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/info_center/laws/COConstitution/ArticleXSection20.html 

Oct 26

Poudre Schools Ballot Question Violates TABOR & Colorado Law

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Colorado’s TABOR Committee & TABOR Foundation @colorado_tabor replied with:
“The Poudre School District R-1 ballot title violates TABOR Section 20 (3) (c). The answer to Hi Kid’s question is “No, the District’s ballot title is not okay.”


Hi Kid @HiKidHey asked this on X (Twitter):  “So what does that mean for voters? Who is ultimately responsible for the TABOR violation? The local county clerk or the district’s designated election official? Genuinely curious.”

Colorado’s TABOR Committee & TABOR Foundation @colorado_tabor replied with:
“We recommend retaining an attorney to quickly file for a temporary restraining order and an injunction in Larimer District Court.  If any increased taxes are collected, then they must be repaid to the taxpayers with interest. The County Treasurer makes repayment to taxpayers including the added interest required by the Colorado Constitution.”
Oct 07

Vote NO On 1A

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Property tax caps have been restored in Colorado. That’s thanks to the pressure from the Citizens’ Tax Cap, compelling state politicians to address the property tax crisis in an August 2024 Legislative Special Session because local governments didn’t lower the property tax mill levies and alleviate the problem.

The property tax crisis was created because voters in local elections in the past has unwittingly voted to forfeit caps in our constitutional Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) and statutory 5.5% Annual Property Tax Cap, recognizing later it was a big mistake. State politicians had mixed feelings about the 2024 Special Session, fiscally conservative legislators thought that HB 24B-1001 didn’t provide enough assurance that residents would not be taxed out of homes. Some “progressive” elected officials thought it was horrible to provide property tax relief in response to a citizen initiative, calling it a “fecal sandwich”.

Jefferson County, like Arapahoe and Weld, has maintained tax caps for over 30 years due to vigilant citizens rejecting misleading ballot issues, such as 1A in 2019 and 2022. However, this is at risk again with a new version of 1A on the 2024 ballot. This version, like before, uses deceptive language and aims to permanently remove these caps.

The key is to share this information quickly and widely. Remind your friends and networks to vote NO on 1A to preserve the caps. Ballots will arrive around October 14-15.

The recent legislative special session caused by the Citizen’s Tax Cap implemented two key changes:

  1. Local taxing agencies (e.g. county or special district) now face a 5.25% cap on property tax increases (6% for schools).
  2. Any ballot measure after November 5, 2024, to remove these limits must clearly state, “Shall the _______ (name of government) waive the 5.25% property tax limit for…” and specify the duration.

Jefferson County’s 1A, being set before this date, skirts these new transparency rules.

Governments often use tax dollars for public persuasion campaigns and exploit legal loopholes during election seasons to get away with it. I recently discussed this in an interview with Free State Colorado, which you can watch here.

The past proponents of Jeffco 1A tax hikes even resorted to tainting our local TABOR notice booklet in 2019. The shenanigans didn’t stop there.

Our current county commissioners Andy Kerr, Lesley Dahlkemper, and Tracy Kraft-Tharp, have stepped up the attack on taxpayers’ wallets using a $340,000 taxpayer-funded political strategist, and continue to push their intentionally misleading ballot language to eliminate the caps.

Voters must reject this behavior. Vote NO on Jefferson County 1A to keep tax caps in place.

– Property owners: Vote no to avoid excessively higher property taxes year after year.

– Renters: Rising property taxes will be passed on as rent increases, making housing less affordable.

– Consumers: Higher business property taxes will raise prices for goods and services.

 

Vote NO on 1A to protect yourself from excessively increasing costs. If you can’t afford more at the grocery store, gas pump, insurance bill, or rent – you sure can’t afford removing property tax caps forever. Even if you can afford excessive taxes, can your neighbor on a fixed income handle it or your grandkids?

If you’d like to find out more information, please join these informative meetings hosted by taxpayer advocacy non-profits:

  • Arvada Library, 7525 W. 57th Avenue, Arvada
    October 7, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
  • Columbine Library, 7706 W. Bowles Avenue, Littleton
    October 12, 10 am – 12 pm