Oct
16
Category Archives: Education
Oct
16
Four reasons to vote no on Proposition CC
Four reasons to vote no on Proposition CC
There are many reasons to vote no on Proposition CC, but for the sake of brevity, I will stick with the basics.
Reason No. 1: It does raise taxes.
While the first three words of the ballot language for Proposition CC are “Without raising taxes,” this simply isn’t true. And it’s hard to understand how proponents can keep a straight face with this one. If the state owes us money in the form of a refund because we’ve overpaid our taxes, and if they don’t give us the refund, we will in fact pay more taxes than we would have without Proposition CC. Period. Continue reading
Oct
16
Proposition CC Comes Up Short So VOTE NO!
Editorial endorsement: @ColoradoNewsCCM, which has 18 local newspapers, says to vote “No” on Prop CC.
Oct
15
Mike Rosen: NO on Proposition CC, YES on Proposition DD
Mike Rosen: NO on Proposition CC, YES on Proposition DD
2019 Colorado ballots have already been mailed out to voters. This year there are no candidate races and only two state-wide propositions as compared to the raft of complicated ballot measures in 2018. Proposition CC and DD were referred to the voters by the state legislature rather than generated by citizens through petition campaigns. Here are my recommendations.
Proposition CC – Retaining State Government revenue. VOTE NO.
A “yes” vote would allow the state to retain any surplus of revenues in excess of spending not only in fiscal year 2018-2019 but in all years to come. A “no” vote requires the state to refund budget surpluses to taxpayers as now required under current law.
In the Colorado Constitution, The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) limits state government spending and taxation through a formula tied to population growth and inflation. Direct voter approval is required to change the limit. Article X, Section 20 (7) (d) reads: “If revenue from sources not excluded from fiscal year spending exceeds these limits in dollars for that fiscal year, the excess shall be refunded in the next fiscal year unless voters approve a revenue change as an offset.”
Through that last clause, Prop CC is asking voters to give up their prospective TABOR refunds permanently. It would spend those budget surpluses in equal shares on K-12 education, higher education and transportation without specifying how the money will be spent within those categories, leaving that to legislative whims now and in the future. Look at it this way: state government spending on K-12 in FY 2018-2019 exceeded $7 billion. Eliminating taxpayer refunds would direct an additional $103 million to K-12 education starting in FY 2020-2021. Seven billion is seven thousand million. One hundred million is a comparative drop in the bucket.
Oct
14
Prop CC Debate: Should TABOR be De-Bruced?
Colorado Proposition CC
On November 5th, 2019 Coloradans will be voting on Proposition CC.
Read more about the ballot initiative HERE on the Secretary of State’s website.
- Amie Baca-Oehlert, President of the Colorado Education Association – Proponent
- George Brauchler, Colorado’s 18th District Attorney – Opponent
- Michael Fields, Executive Director of Colorado Rising Action – Opponent
- Scott Wasserman, President of the Bell Policy Center – Proponent
Oct
13
Colorado Proposition CC: May state keep all taxes rather than refund excess as required by TABOR
Colorado Proposition CC: May state keep all taxes rather than refund excess as required by TABOR
What it asks: “Without raising taxes and to better fund public schools, higher education, and roads, bridges, and transit, within a balanced budget, may the state keep and spend all the revenue it annually collects after June 30, 2019, but is not currently allowed to keep and spend under Colorado law, with an annual independent audit to show how the retained revenues are spent?”
What it means: Proposition CC would allow the state to retain revenue it refunds under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights for education and transportation purposes. The measure would require the state auditor to hire a private entity to conduct an annual financial audit regarding use of funds as provided under the measure.
It will allow state government to keep the money it collects from existing sources annually instead of refunding some to taxpayers when annual revenue growth, which is tied to inflation and the percentage change in state population, exceeds that. Any money collected above this limit is refunded to taxpayers unless the voters allow the state to spend it.
Proposition CC would eliminate that cap allowing the state to keep and spend all future excess revenue on transportation, K-12 schools and higher education rather than refunding it to taxpayers.
Oct
13
Conservative think tank opposes tax refund, sports betting ballot measures
Conservative think tank opposes tax refund, sports betting ballot measures
The think tank, part of Colorado Christian University, says it’s opposing Propositions CC and DD because they aren’t fiscally responsible and don’t help families in the state. The state constitution’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) requires voter approval for all tax increases.
“Colorado is more free, families are stronger, and our state budget is healthier if both Proposition CC and Proposition DD are rejected,” Centennial Institute Director Jeff Hunt said.
When state government collects revenue above its spending cap, TABOR requires that money to be refunded back to taxpayers. Proposition CC asks voters to allow state government to permanently keep the occasional tax refunds.
Oct
13
Don’t give Legislature a blank check
DON’T GIVE LEGISLATURE A BLANK CHECK
In your upcoming mail ballot you will be asked to give the state of Colorado a blank check. Don’t be tricked into believing the initial language “without raising taxes…”
Proposition CC is a tax increase forever. Colorado taxpayers will no longer receive (forever) any of their tax rebates (refunds) of their hard earned money if Proposition CC passes.
Colorado Legislature has tricked us in the past by saying requested tax increases would fund roads, bridges, education, teacher pay, and on and on, but when our taxpayer money was spent, the Legislature decided to divert it elsewhere due to lobby and special interest groups pressure. The Legislature has consistently broken promises to Colorado voters. Recently, Colorado voters rejected 13 ballot measures at the state level by a wide margin. Because Colorado voters defeated the Colorado Legislature’s request for more funds, the Legislature now proposes to “trick” Colorado voters again.
This Proposition will “gut” the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (also known as TABOR). The Taxpayer Bill of Rights requires voter approval for any increase in taxes or debt. This is our Taxpayer Bill of Rights, not the Legislature’s, do not vote to give it away forever.
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights has been the only way voters have kept Colorado from spending taxpayer funds to the maximum, as done in California.
Proposition CC will forever remove Colorado seniors and veterans property tax exemptions. This will put seniors and veterans at risk, and place more pressure on local budgets.
Colorado communities have individually voted property tax increases to fund local schools and other services such as fire departments (we can locally determine if funds are being spent as represented), and if Proposition CC passes, those seniors and veterans on fixed incomes will have a difficulty paying local property tax bills.
Colorado has a top ranked economy. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights has contributed to Colorado’s success. Colorado has one of the lowest tax rates in the country providing a positive location for business investment and jobs.
If our Taxpayer Bill of Rights is repealed, over $1.7 billion collected over the next 3 years will not be refunded to Colorado taxpayers.
The Legislature already has a $32.5 billion budget… enough is enough! This budget automatically increases with population and inflation. The Legislature has enough of our money.
The Legislature must be held to account and budget just as we do with our personal budgets.
Mary Ann Smith
Pagosa Springs
Oct
13
Proposition CC explained: What it means to end the spending caps in TABOR and the money at stake
Proposition CC explained: What it means to end the spending caps in TABOR and the money at stake
The debate for Prop. CC involves whether to keep TABOR refunds, or send the tax dollars to three key areas: education, colleges and transportation.
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENTPRIMARY CATEGORY IN WHICH BLOG POST IS PUBLISHED
Oct
13
Colorado Voter Guide 2019: What you need to know about propositions CC
Colorado Voter Guide 2019: What you need to know about propositions CC and DD before you vote
Voters will make decisions in November about two questions involving taxes that the Democratic-led state legislature put on the ballot
There’s no presidential election or U.S. Senate contest on the 2019 ballot, but the Nov. 5 election will ask Colorado voters two fiscal questions with major ramifications for the future of the state.
Proposition CC and Proposition DD pose questions related to taxes — whether to keep the tax money the state collected and whether to add a new tax on sports gambling. And the interests that will benefit are spending big money to make their case. Ballots hit the mail starting Friday.
Here’s a look at the two statewide ballot questions. (Click the links below to jump to that section.)
Proposition CC || PROPOSITION DD
