Tag: tabor
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EDITORIAL: Beam me up, Scotty, there are no signs of intelligent life down here
If Captain Kirk ever visited Colorado’s state Capitol in search of an elected Democrat who could balance a budget — or even a checkbook — there’d be nothing to enter in the captain’s log. He only would find beings addicted to spending and incapable of living within their means. A species doomed to extinction. That’s…
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As education funding changes in Colorado, rural school districts face uncertainties
In the small mountain town of Cripple Creek, widely known across Colorado for its casinos, donkey herds and mining history, sits a fittingly humble school district faced with rising costs and limited resources to address them. During the district’s spring break in late March, a high school teacher could be found alone in her classroom…
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Proposal to use TABOR refunds for education gets preliminary OK in Colorado
KEY TAKEAWAY: Colorado residents will lose more than $7,000 in TABOR refunds over 10 years under a Democratic proposal to divert the money to K-12 education. If approved by the full Senate, its next stop is the House. Colorado senators on Friday gave preliminary approval to a proposed ballot measure that would take billions of…
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EDITORIAL: Robbing TABOR to pay pols
The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, has served as a wise and workable limit on government growth in Colorado ever since the policy was amended into the state constitution by voters in 1992. Which of course means politicians and special interests have toiled tirelessly for decades to outflank TABOR — sometimes cleverly, other times…
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Colorado budget plan seeks to keep $306 million by canceling TABOR refunds
Tucked deep within the hundreds of pages of the proposed $46.8 billion 2026–27 state budget is a line item showing $306.1 million in savings — achieved by canceling Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refunds. Gov. Jared Polis has recommended withholding TABOR refunds in both 2026–27 and 2027–28. His budget proposal says the state accidentally overpaid $306.1…
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Appeals court rejects theory that existing tax revenue undermines need for new fees
Colorado’s second-highest court rejected a plaintiff’s claim last week that the tax revenue generated by an existing activity should prevent local governments from imposing new fees aimed at regulating the activity. The question stemmed from Colorado’s unique constraints on taxation under the 1992 Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The constitutional amendment generally requires voter approval of…
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LETTERS: Wailing and gnashing of teeth; people instead of parties
Why so much anger and fuss? One might imagine from all the wailing and gnashing of teeth in the Tri-Lakes area that Beelzebub himself is planning to build a den of iniquity at the corner of I-25 and County Line Road. Why so much anger and fuss over a Buc-ee’s? Few would disagree that unspoiled…
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LETTERS: For some, the street is all they have; shifting utilities usage
For some, the street is all they have Re: The Final Vote? Colorado Springs Car Camping Ban — March 10, 2026. The air was heavy in the council chambers. Sadness lingered even before the final vote was cast. I felt defeated, as if I had let down the neighbors and loved ones I advocate for.…
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LETTERS: This is a boondoggle; no really means no
This is a boondoggle I attended the Colorado Springs Front Range Rail Meeting. The rail service’s plan is to utilize the existing freight train rails (that run about 12-16 trains a day – no firm answer) and they are still in the negotiation/planning stage. They plan to begin with 3 one hour and forty five…
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Senate committee moves forward with Colorado ballot measure to redirect TABOR refunds to schools
A Senate panel on Thursday voted along party lines to move forward with a bill that would ask voters for permission to eliminate Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refunds and redirect those dollars to K-12 public education. The 6-3 vote in the Senate Finance Committee sends Senate Bill 135 to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further…