By Brian Ochsner | Commentary, Complete Colorado
As an Arapahoe County resident, I’ll be voting no on Ballot Issue 1A, a measure to permanently remove taxpayer protections in place under Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR. Let me explain.
TABOR is a constitutional amendment that, among other things, limits the growth of local government spending to a reasonable annual rate based on inflation and local economic growth. Overcollected revenue must be returned to taxpayers unless voters give permission to exceed those limits. Issue 1A would allow the county government to keep and spend revenue that would otherwise be refunded in perpetuity. County officials wont say it, but that amounts to a tax hike.
It’s how big government advocates try to spin the ability to tax and spend without restrictions. It’s never a good idea, but especially now given the state of our state and nation’s economy.
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