Jun
09
Category Archives: TABOR Blog
May
25
TABOR Coalition Launches to Protect Refunds, Taxpayers
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 24, 2023
CONTACT: Caitlin Gallagher Blundell,?cgallagher@standtogether.org??
TABOR Coalition Launches to Protect Refunds, Taxpayers
Organizations across Colorado have come together to protect taxpayers & oppose any attempt to take away TABOR refunds
DENVER, CO – Today a coalition of organizations came out in opposition to any attempt by the legislature or special interest groups to take away Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) refunds. Colorado is expected to return $2.7 billion to taxpayers in the coming year.
“While special interests and politicians have been busy looking for ways to withhold TABOR refunds over the last several months, Americans for Prosperity, our activists and coalition partners have been busy contacting voters across the state,” said AFP-CO State Director Jesse Mallory. “Families have already received two rounds of TABOR refunds and polling has shown TABOR is more popular than ever. Trying to convince voters to weaken TABOR and eliminate refunds will be a nearly impossible ask.”
Coloradans benefit from TABOR refunds and these organizations have pledged their support to protect taxpayers from any attempt to interfere with them. The organizations are:
- Advance Colorado
- Americans for Prosperity-Colorado
- Broomfield Taxpayer Matters
- Centennial Institute
- Colorado Union of Taxpayers
- Colorado Women’s Alliance
- Independence Institute
- Liberty Scorecard
- Lincoln Club Colorado
- Springs Taxpayers United
- Steamboat institute
- TABOR Committee
BACKGROUND:
The coalition came out in opposition to any attempts by the legislature or special interest groups to take away TABOR refunds from the taxpayers they belong to. Colorado is expected to return $2.7 billion to taxpayers in the coming year.
Recently, Governor Polis and lawmakers tied TABOR refunds to the state’s skyrocketing property tax.
For more than 30 years, Coloradans have benefited from TABOR refunds. The coalition and its members pledge support to protect taxpayers from any attempt from Gov. Polis and the General Assembly to take away their rightful, hard-earned return.
For further information or an interview, reach CAITLIN GALLAGHER at cgallagher@standtogether.org or (206) 402-8432.
Through broad-based grassroots outreach, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is driving long-term solutions to the country’s biggest problems. AFP activists engage friends and neighbors on key issues and encourage them to take an active role in building a culture of mutual benefit, where people succeed by helping one another. AFP recruits and unites Coloradans behind a common goal of advancing policies that will help people improve their lives. For more information, visit www.AmericansForProsperity.org
To view this release online click here.
May
01
Twitter Post By Roger D. Hudson About TABOR, Gov. Polis, & Colorado’s Property Tax Problem
Roger D. Hudson @RogerHudsonCO
Polis unveiled his plan to fix Colorado’s #PropertyTax problem — it asks voters to use TABOR refunds. “While we at the Capitol were making new laws that were too expensive, real Coloradans have been opening up their mail —finding tax bills they can’t pay. bit.ly/3B2zDSd
May
01
TABOR Gives Taxpayers a Voice
TABOR Gives Taxpayers a Voice
By Dennis Polhill
A recent election result showed the great value of the requirement within the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights for voters to approve new taxes or debt. There was a TABOR election in the Foothills Fire Protection District (FFPS). The outcomes measure how upset voters were with the proposed actions of elected officials.
Ballot issue 6B would have allowed the District to issue new debt. That was soundly defeated 74.11% to 25.89%
Ballot issue 6C would have increased taxes and it too was defeated, by 66.98% to 33.02%
The tactics used to obtain this taxpayer money were very questionable. A former board member who painstakingly reviewed all meeting documentation learned that there had been absolutely zero public discussion of the proposed ballot measures prior to the August meeting when the measure was placed on the ballot. Yet, the proposal passed unanimously – without discussion! Had something been happening behind the scenes, in violation of the Sunshine laws? Note that the August meeting was the last possible moment to meet the County Clerk’s deadline for a November citizen vote to put the referral to the ballot .
Paradise Hills Homeowners Association on Lookout Mountain accounts for close to half of the homes protected by FFPD and owns a vacant lot designated for open space use near an I-70 highway exit. At a Homeowners Association meeting an alert retired firefighter picked up on what was happening when it was mentioned that FFPD would buy the vacant lot for a new station for $400,000, yielding a significant rainy day fund or dues waiver for Homeowners Association owners. Did FFPD intend to buy their votes with their own tax dollars?
Citizens immediately started getting the word out; flyers were printed, yard signs went up, and a couple of large banners created. Comments on Nextdoor were not friendly to FFPD, resulting in the censoring from Nextdoor of some neighbors who posted information.
By this time the community was in angry uproar and five folks who otherwise likely would never have run for any office are now candidates for the five seats on the FFPD board due to be elected on May 2, 2023.
Mar
17
Bullet Point #1 Under Taxation In The Colorado Democrat Party Platform
Did you know?
The Colorado Democrat’s party platform states that they want to eliminate TABOR?
Mar
17
Will The Left Abolish TABOR?
Friday @CompleteCO update:
@JonCaldara, @MichaelCLFields and @benamurrey on defending and strengthening the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights
#copolitics
http://CompleteColorado.com
https://twitter.com/CompleteCO/status/1636728225970946048?s=20
Click this link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGkh2Kg-MJU, to watch Jon Caldara, Michael Fields, and Ben Murrey discuss TABOR;
Mar
09
Americans For Prosperity Supports the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights
TABOR supporter,
Did you know Americans For Prosperity has been promoting and protecting TABOR, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights?
Attached is a brochure with their latest activities.
You can learn more by checking their website, https://americansforprosperity.org/state/colorado/
The purpose of this letter is to share a list of Americans for Prosperity’s vigorous activities educating the public about TABOR over the last several months.
Since not everyone may have witnessed those efforts (much is visible on facebook and twitter), I’m including some social blurbs and photos. These blurbs just span back to the July-August 2022 period and I certainly haven’t included all their activities, though there’s more available.
AFP mailers to voters that refunds were thanks to TABOR.
Then, AFP engaged in a gas promotion with unleaded at $2.38 per gallon. AFP covered the difference between the $2.38 and the going rate of $4.45. While drivers waited in line to get the promo gas price, AFP shared information about the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, handed out promo materials and water. Continue reading
Feb
27
Support The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).
#DontBeFooled
#ItsYourMoneyNotTheirs
#VoteOnTaxesAndFees
#FeesAreTaxes
#TABOR
#ThankGodForTABOR
#FollowTheMoney
#FollowTheLaw 
Feb
22
Menten: How to get involved in the May special district elections
Menten: How to get involved in the May special district elections
February 21, 2023 By Natalie Menten
There are over 4,500 local government agencies in Colorado. Nearly 3,000 of those are special districts. All of these agencies and special districts are included under our Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).
Most voters wouldn’t be able to list off the top of their head all the local governments collecting property taxes from them either directly, or passed on to them as a percentage of rent by the property owner in the course of business. You might have a couple or even several of these governments charging you property taxes — lots of layers.
You can check your special districts using this Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) GIS map. It’s a great tool offering filters and layers so you get all the information. Click on the district map and you’ll get the annual levy rate and contact information for the district.
Why should you care?
Special districts, especially metropolitan districts, can amount to a sizable portion of your property tax bill. Just because you don’t directly write the check for the property taxes doesn’t mean you’re not footing part or all of the property tax tab. Tenants and consumers pay a portion of the property taxes in rent or included in the cost of the products they buy.
Some special districts, especially metropolitan districts, may rival the mill levy rate or dollar amount of school district property taxes — usually the most expensive item on your property tax bill.
The list of all Colorado Property Tax Entities 2022 Mill Levy Rates is found here. Some are nearly 100 mills! Continue reading
Feb
15
Americans For Prosperity’s Valentine’s Day Card To Colorado
AFP Colorado@AFPColorado
ICYMI: A valentine mailer that hit across Colorado reminding voters to pay attention to an elected official’s actions and not just their words when it comes to the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR)
