The Denver Post had a story yesterday claiming a drop off in communities across Colorado asking for tax increases, stating there were only “17 financial measures on ballots” this year, compared to 29 in 2008, based on a review by the Colorado Municipal League.
Despite it being a presidential election year, far fewer cities are asking for tax increases this November than asked four years ago, and those that are, are asking for the bare minimum.
A review by the Colorado Municipal League found 29 financial measures on ballots statewide in 2008, compared with 17 this year.
According to the free-market Independence Institute, there are in fact 50 tax and debt hiking measures on ballots in Colorado, not 17.
The difference between what the Post reported and what the Independence Institute found relates to framing: the Post was referring only to cities, while the Independence Institute’s count includes special districts and school districts. But when it comes to hiking your taxes, do you really care about what authority is sticking their grubby fingers in your pocket?
A tax and debt increase by any other authority would smell as awful, right?
We won’t hold our breath for a Post correction. They’re not big fans of the fine folks at the Independence Institute these days. After all, i2i has posted a billboard across the street from the Post‘s building, shaming them for their lack of coverage on Abound Solar’s collapse.