Colorado Republicans are calling for a special legislative session for Gov. Polis to pass urgent legislation to address the state’s skyrocketing property taxes.
Because passing Prop HH is not the answer, and it’s not going to pass anyway.
The state legislature should have seriously addressed the issue in the previous session, instead of ignoring the property tax crisis until it was too late to do anything except undermine the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) and take even more of our money.
The solutions called for by GOP lawmakers during a press conference this week include lowering the assessment rates for all residential and most nonresidential properties.
Tax exemptions should also be raised from $100,000 to $200,000 to seniors and disabled veterans, they argued.
Then Republicans went a step further in proposing tax relief for all working Coloradans by lowering the state’s income tax from its current 4.4% to 4%.
“Thanks to careless leadership and back-room deals conjured up by Gov. Polis and the Democrat majority, many Coloradans are fearing the worst — we need tax relief now,” said Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer of Weld County.
“By permanently reducing the property tax assessment rate and lowering income tax permanently, Colorado homeowners can enjoy the financial security they are owed. It’s not just about saving Coloradans money, but ensuring they breathe easier knowing that their hard-earned money is staying in their pockets where it belongs,” Kirkmeyer said.
Republican Minority Leader Paul Lundeen said Polis needs to take action now before it’s too late.
“This body does not turn on a dime; we cannot wait until mid-January to conjure up a solution when property taxes come due in February,” Lundeen said.
Polis hasn’t commented on the GOP proposals for tax relief, and Democrats scoffed at the idea, claiming Republicans aren’t serious about tax cuts.
IN JARED’S COLORADO™ Presumed presidential candidate Jared Polis @jaredpolis @govofco said, “Colorado is…saving Coloradans money!”
He ignored the GOP call to reduce property taxes. https://t.co/iArnDV78lz#copolitics #9News #HeyNext #cogov pic.twitter.com/EfxaYLVcOH
— 9MM NEWS (@News9mm) October 26, 2023
And yet, it’s always the Republicans pushing for tax cuts, and Democrats scoffing and taking more of our money.
If it weren’t for the Republican Party, Coloradans wouldn’t even have the tax relief they get now through TABOR, which is exactly what Democrats are trying to kill by passing Prop HH.
Wake up Colorado and hang onto your wallets.