Three months ago I asked the question: "What does Bill Ritter know about the Supreme Court to gamble taxpayer dollars?" Yesterday, the same sort of hubris was on display, following the oral arguments that were held before the state's highest court to hear Gov. Ritter's appeal in defense of his unconstitutional property tax hike. The Denver Post reports:Ritter's office has downplayed the need for any contingency plans in the event the high court throws out the mill-levy freeze. Evan Dreyer, a spokesman for Ritter, gave a low-key response. "This is a complex case, and it is now in the hands of the court," Dreyer said. "We appreciate that the court heard oral arguments so quickly, and we look forward to the court's decision so we can … [Read more...]
Bernie Buescher Lax about Dollars Taken by Ritter’s Unauthorized Tax Hike
It's not just Democrat Governor Bill Ritter who is presuming to wager more than $100 million in taxpayer funds on his confidence in the state supreme court overturning a decision against his unconstitutional property tax increase. The Grand Junction Free Press reports about the lax attitude of a ranking Democrat incumbent from the Western Slope:The appeal has not been scheduled, and Democratic Rep. Bernie Buescher of Grand Junction believes it’s too soon to make a plan for a change that may never come. The article explains that the money collected starts to be spent on July 1. And while Republican lawmakers Rep. Steve King and Sen. Josh Penry want to work quickly to find a prudent solution, Bernie Buescher (pictured) has taken a … [Read more...]
Cary Kennedy Said What?
With Gov. Bill Ritter's property tax hike still on trial, the Rocky Mountain News reports that state treasurer Cary Kennedy - who thought up the mill levy "freeze" idea - made a remarkable concession on the witness stand:State treasurer Cary Kennedy conceded today on the witness stand that a bill passed last year by the legislature alters the way taxes are calculated with the net result that many property owners pay more. But Kennedy continued to insist the 2007 law, SB 199, does not violate Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. O-k.... … [Read more...]
Bill Ritter’s Tax Hike on Trial: Day 1
Yesterday was the first day of the court hearing on the lawsuit by the Independence Institute (where I work) and Colorado taxpayers against Gov. Bill Ritter's unconstitutional property tax increase. Today's Denver Post explains a key issue behind the plaintiffs' argument:They noted that in 1993, the General Assembly amended the School Finance Act to ensure that the property taxes raised for the local share of total program funding for public-school education in each school not violate the revenue cap of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. But with passage of the 2007 amendment, Ritter used it to freeze mill-levies, the opponents charged. The freeze holds mill levies — the rate at which taxes are charged — in place when they normally … [Read more...]
Bill Ritter and the Colorado Democrats’ Unauthorized Tax Hike Goes to Court
At long last, court hearings begin today in the case of Gov. Bill Ritter raising Coloradans' property taxes without a constitutional vote of the people. From the Denver Post:The freeze is estimated to bring in $117 million this year and $3.8 billion over a decade, up from an initial estimate of $1.7 billion when it was passed. Richard Westfall, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said the two sides will call about 10 witnesses, likely including school finance experts, the state treasurer and school board members. Dreyer said Ritter is not expected to testify. "A lot of the discussion is going to be about addressing pretty esoteric points in the school finance act," Westfall said. The trial is scheduled to last a week. It will be … [Read more...]
High-Ranking Democrat: Property Tax Hike Not Just for Schools
One year ago today, Gov. Bill Ritter announced his "Children's Amendment," which ended up passing as part of the 2007 School Finance Act - effectively raising property taxes on homes and businesses without a constitutional vote of the people. Now comes the revelation from a high-ranking member of Ritter's own Democratic Party: The money generated from the tax hike isn't just to fund schools. The chairman of the powerful Joint Budget Committee has acknowledged on the record that a sweeping statewide property-tax hike pushed through last year by his fellow Democrats will subsidize new social programs--not just schools, as originally promised. Democrat Bernie Buescher, of Grand Junction, said in a JBC meeting this week that some of the … [Read more...]