Colorado Democrats Push Plan To Redirect TABOR Refunds To State Spending

By Marianne Goodland | The Denver Gazette

A nonpartisan analysis of a proposed ballot measure that seeks to increase public education spending by tapping Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refunds shows that about 75% of what would otherwise go to Colorado residents wouldn’t actually go to K-12 schools.

Instead, those dollars would go into the state’s general fund pot — to be used by lawmakers for whatever purposes they choose.

The analysis said that arrangement could start as soon as the 2028-29 fiscal year.

What that means, according to the analysis, is that every taxpayer would lose $7,381 in TABOR refunds between the 2026-27 and 2036-37 fiscal years.

At its core, TABOR requires a public vote in order to raise taxes. It also limits revenue growth. Notably, it requires excess revenue to be refunded to taxpayers.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THE DENVER GAZETTE