Jared Polis took Bernie Buescher off the State Board of Equalization, giving Republicans a majority on the panel that reviews local property tax decisions
By Jesse Paul | SOURCE: THE COLORADO SUN
Jared Polis removed a Democrat he appointed to a state board that reviews local property tax decisions after the panel in December unanimously rejected Douglas County’s attempt to offer a $28 million tax break to homeowners.
The governor blasted the State Board of Equalization’s decision at the time, and then last week took former Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher off the panel and replaced him with Richard Sokol, an Englewood Republican, who sits on the board for South Metro Fire Rescue.
Polis’ swap not only sends another message about his dislike for the State Board of Equalization’s ruling, but it also hands Republicans a 3-2 majority on the panel.
In a written statement, Shelby Wieman, a spokeswoman for the governor, said “Polis thanks Mr. Buescher for his service to Colorado and is grateful to Mr. Sokol for stepping into the role.”
Buescher, in an interview with The Colorado Sun, said Polis informed him that he was being taken off the committee in a recent phone call. He had served as the governor’s designee on the board for roughly two years.