Category Archives: Legal Issues

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

How to Get Your 2024 TABOR Refund in Colorado

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How to Get Your 2024 TABOR Refund in Colorado

Thanks to Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), residents will receive a refund when filing their 2024 state income taxes in 2025.

? How to Get It:

  • File your Colorado state income tax return (Form DR0104) by the deadline.
  • No extra forms are needed — TABOR refund is on line 35 of Form DR 0104.

? How Much Will You Get? Refund amounts are based on your income and filing status. Here’s what to expect:

Single Filers:

  • Up to $53K: $177
  • $53K–$105K: $240
  • $105K–$166K: $277
  • $166K–$233K: $323
  • $233K–$302K: $350
  • Over $302K: $565

Joint Filers:

  • Up to $53K: $354
  • $53K–$105K: $480
  • $105K–$166K: $554
  • $166K–$233K: $646
  • $233K–$302K: $700
  • Over $302K: $1,130

? Bonus: Lower Income Tax Rate The state income tax rate dropped from 4.40% to 4.25% for 2024 — another TABOR win for taxpayers!

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 →

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 25

Should any Colorado Judges be Retained? Constitutional Lawyer Rebecca Sopkin Gives her Picks!

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It’s not easy to find information on the judges appearing on your Colorado ballot. Rebecca Sopkin is a Constitutional Attorney and TABOR Foundation Board Member.

In this video, she is sharing her methodology for determining who to vote for, some resources for voters to use, and her picks for this year’s ballot. Links from the video https://freestatecolorado.com/sopkin/

Oct 04

TABOR Wins: Colorado Supreme Court Declines to Review Taxpayer Victory Against Water Conservancy District

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TABOR Wins: Colorado Supreme Court Declines to Review Taxpayer Victory Against Water Conservancy District

October 01, 2024

Taxpayers in Colorado’s Lower South Platte Water Conservancy will receive refunds from an illegally doubled property tax after the Colorado Supreme Court denied review of a previous decision in favor of James Aranci and taxpayers Monday. 

The District doubled its property tax in 2019 without holding a public approval vote as required by Colorado’s Constitution.

The decision is a win for Colorado taxpayers statewide and will strengthen Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). The National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF)’s Taxpayer Defense Center, in conjunction with Advance Colorado, represented Aranci and other taxpayers in the case.

“TABOR means what it says, and so a local government cannot double the property tax rate without a vote of the people,” NTUF Senior Attorney Tyler Martinez said. “We’re glad the Colorado Supreme Court declined to review this case further and left in place the unanimous decision by the Court of Appeals.”

NTUF’s Taxpayer Defense Center advocates for taxpayers’ rights across the country. The organization’s in-house team of attorneys challenge overzealous and unfair tax administration. Because of lawsuits brought by the Taxpayer Defense Center, individuals and businesses nationwide have benefitted from fair, equitable policy and victories worth tens of millions of dollars.

“We are grateful for the Taxpayer Defense Center taking up the case,” Chuck Miller, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said. “We wanted to stand up for all taxpayers in the district and protect our TABOR rights.”

For more information on the Taxpayer Defense Center’s victory for taxpayers in Colorado or to discuss the case with NTUF’s legal team, please contact NTUF Marketing Director Courtney Manley at courtney.manley@ntu.org.

https://www.ntu.org/foundation/detail/tabor-wins-colorado-supreme-court-declines-to-review-taxpayer-victory-against-water-conservancy-district

Jul 30

EDITORIAL: Salute our state’s constitution this Colorado Day

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EDITORIAL: Salute our state’s constitution this Colorado Day

  • The Gazette editorial board

On Thursday, the state of Colorado turns 148 — and Coloradans no doubt can think of many good reasons to celebrate.

Among them of course are the Centennial State’s unmatched natural wonders. There’s also the state’s exquisite climate; its vast, wide-open spaces, and its abundant resources — from oil and gas underground to the wind and sunshine all around — that heat our homes, power our automobiles and light the way.

One blessing that’s more directly connected to the advent of Colorado’s statehood itself is our founding charter — our state’s constitution — which shares the same birthday. Drafted in March of 1876 and approved by territorial voters on July 1 of the same year, the Colorado Constitution formally took effect Aug. 1, 1876, when Colorado was admitted to the union.

There’s good reason to celebrate the state’s constitution, as well, on Colorado Day.

Like any constitution, ours isn’t without foibles. At times it has left itself wide open to interpretation, and activist courts have been happy to oblige. Yet, on the balance, Colorado’s constitution has served its citizens pretty well — including by way of some well-timed and well-placed amendments to the document over the generations. Continue reading →

Jun 18

A Voter Revolt Grows in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats in Sacramento try to block anti-tax and anti-crime initiatives from the November ballot

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A Voter Revolt Grows in California

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats in Sacramento try to block anti-tax and anti-crime initiatives from the November ballot.

 

By The Editorial Board

June 16, 2024 3:56 pm ET

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a rally in support of Freedom to Marry, a ballot measure to remove Proposition 8 from the state Constitution, Friday, June 7, 2024, at Manny’s at 16th and Mission streets in San Francisco. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) PHOTO: JESSICA CHRISTIAN/ASSOCIATED PRESS

We’ve told you about California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit to block a citizen initiative from this November’s ballot that would make it harder to raise taxes. Now his Legislature is trying to sabotage another initiative that would toughen penalties for theft and drug crimes. Why do Democrats fear voters?

Law enforcement, businesses and local elected officials across the Golden State are campaigning to roll back parts of Prop. 47. That’s the 2014 initiative that made misdemeanors of drug possession and theft of less than $950 in goods. Supporters including Mr. Newsom said it would save money by reducing incarceration.

The George Soros-backed initiative cut the state prison count, but Californians are paying a high price. Organized criminals exploit the law’s lax penalties. District attorneys say Prop. 47 prevents them from leveraging the penalty of jail time to induce addicts into treatment. Police often don’t arrest thieves or drug users because the crimes go unpunished. Retail theft, vagrancy and open-air drug use have spiked.

Thus the citizen initiative, which would toughen penalties for shoplifters and drug dealers. Someone with two prior convictions for theft could be charged with a felony on the third offense no matter the amount. The value of stolen property from multiple thefts could be combined for a felony charge. Continue reading →