Democrats Still Not Owning Up to Property Tax Increase

Leading Colorado Democrats still don’t seem to understand how property owners paying a higher tax rate constitutes a tax increase, even though the new law signed by Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter will raise $114 million in new tax revenue:

But Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, who sponsored the House version of the school-finance bill, said Gardner doesn’t understand how the law works.

“It’s not a tax increase,” he said. ” . . . The money that comes from the school district never leaves the school district.”

He said the money was not going to the state budget and that all the local school districts affected by the law had held a vote to exempt themselves from the TABOR limits to keep the property tax revenues.

How else can Democrats justify their violation of the state constitution by refusing to ask the people of Colorado to approve a massive property tax increase? Pommer chose to stick to the retread argument that has been shot down numerous times. Most recently, the attorney general’s office clearly restated the case on the record:

But Deputy Attorney General Jason Dunn said that the Colorado constitution doesn’t allow the state to lean on past local elections as evidence of support.”The bottom line is that TABOR says if the state wants to change its tax policy to generate more revenue, the state must get voters’ permission,” he said.

In order for opponents to begin to make their case, the ballot questions from the local school district elections would have to include language stating that the district can keep revenues, “even if the state later changes tax policy.”

“Did voters really contemplate the state subsequently changing its tax policy? I highly doubt it,” said Dunn.

As I keep establishing the record of the Democrats’ failed and deceptive arguments to foist a property tax increase on Colorado, I invite readers to judge for themselves:

– August 2: “Ritter balks at Institute examining case for tax increase”

– July 27: “Democrats attempt to deceive about tax hike scheme”

– June 18: “Consequences of supporting a property tax increase”

– June 6: “Four weeks since Ritter hiked your property taxes”

– May 10: “Ritter signs property tax hike, sticks finger in taxpayers’ eyes”

– May 9: “Yes, it’s time to sue: arrogant tax hike leaves little choice”

– May 3: “iVoices: Hear AG Suthers explain need for vote on tax hike”

– May 3: “Harsanyi: Why not ask voters first?”

– May 1: “Colorado Dems ram through bill, snub voters, raise taxes”

– April 25: “Colorado schools keep raising funds from property taxes”

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, you can call it whatever you want: it’s still a duck. The same goes for Democrats and tax increases.