Ref. C & D : Increasing state spending and borrowing
When Colorado voters go to the polls Nov. 1, ( a week earlier than the rest of the country), they will be asked in Referendums C & D to repeal the spending restraints imposed by the Taxpayers Bill of Rights aka TaBOR passed in 1992. Advocates insist it is not a tax increase, that the money due to be rebated back to taxpayers in the next 5 years will only be suspended ( and therefore spent). The State will not collect more taxes , they simply will return less.
They claim state health care, public education, transportation and the police and fire workers pensions will be at risk if it doesn't pass. But they don't mention how the money will be spent or how the state's revenues increased 6% from last year and will continue to increase regardless of whether referendums C & D pass.
Did you get a 6% raise? Apparently this doesn't matter. Proponents have spent 4 times more than their opposition scaring the voters with unsubstantiated claims. Teachers, health care workers and public employee unions have been huge contributors. Even The Denver Post published an editorial advocating its support on its FRONT PAGE!
Personally, I believe editorials should be reserved for the Editorial Page. But I have been especially annoyed at the lack of facts discussed like what the present budget is opposed to the "projected" budget and the explanation/justification of the difference. Instead taxpayers are just expected to believe the politicians when they predict a budget "crisis".
Even though TaBOR was widely praised in the late 1990's for its effectiveness in controlling government growth and providing tax relief, it is now blamed for the current budget "crisis", not the national recession, especially impacting Colorado's tech sector, or a severe drought effecting agriculture and tourism, or a mis- guided educational spending mandate that forced government to spend more money than it collected, Amendment 23.
Based on the "big money" support for referendums C&D, I think they will pass but, sadly they will not solve the pending budget crisis. Government will always want more money regardless of the revenues collected . It will always claim some "crisis" and be unwilling or incapable of providing accurate cost/ benefit analysis.
What is really required is strong leadership. If individuals have to "bite the bullet" in hard economic times, so should government. TaBOR forced government to spend "within its means" and it's repeal will allow it to expand without accountability. This is the time to save for the future and not spend recklessly.
They claim state health care, public education, transportation and the police and fire workers pensions will be at risk if it doesn't pass. But they don't mention how the money will be spent or how the state's revenues increased 6% from last year and will continue to increase regardless of whether referendums C & D pass.
Did you get a 6% raise? Apparently this doesn't matter. Proponents have spent 4 times more than their opposition scaring the voters with unsubstantiated claims. Teachers, health care workers and public employee unions have been huge contributors. Even The Denver Post published an editorial advocating its support on its FRONT PAGE!
Personally, I believe editorials should be reserved for the Editorial Page. But I have been especially annoyed at the lack of facts discussed like what the present budget is opposed to the "projected" budget and the explanation/justification of the difference. Instead taxpayers are just expected to believe the politicians when they predict a budget "crisis".
Even though TaBOR was widely praised in the late 1990's for its effectiveness in controlling government growth and providing tax relief, it is now blamed for the current budget "crisis", not the national recession, especially impacting Colorado's tech sector, or a severe drought effecting agriculture and tourism, or a mis- guided educational spending mandate that forced government to spend more money than it collected, Amendment 23.
Based on the "big money" support for referendums C&D, I think they will pass but, sadly they will not solve the pending budget crisis. Government will always want more money regardless of the revenues collected . It will always claim some "crisis" and be unwilling or incapable of providing accurate cost/ benefit analysis.
What is really required is strong leadership. If individuals have to "bite the bullet" in hard economic times, so should government. TaBOR forced government to spend "within its means" and it's repeal will allow it to expand without accountability. This is the time to save for the future and not spend recklessly.
posted by ljmcinnis at 2:11 AM
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