Latest news with #TABOR
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Effort to transform Colorado politics by 2030 takes shape
The question sounds innocuous: "When you think about having more courageous and representative politics in Colorado, what does that mean to you?" Yes, but: It's the precursor to much more. The organizers who asked the question just finished a statewide listening tour called Courageous Colorado, the start to an overhaul of the state's elections and campaigns to make them less partisan. The goal is to implement policy changes at the local or state level by 2030. The big picture: The effort is the outgrowth of Proposition 131, a failed 2024 campaign to institute all-candidate primaries and ranked choice voting. Unite for America, a national democracy reform group that pushed Prop. 131, paid in part for the tour, Axios Denver has learned. The League of Women Voters, CiviCO and Veterans for All Voters, all civic engagement groups, are co-hosts. Between the lines: A similar statewide listening tour ahead of the 2016 election led to a ballot initiative to roll back the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, known as TABOR. What they are saying: "We have to also transform the way campaigns are run," Landon Mascareñaz, the lead organizer of the tour told us, lamenting their "divisive nature." State of play: Courageous Colorado organized 20 town halls across the state through late May to spur the conversation and generate a 2030 agenda. At each stop, attendees — ranging from a handful to more than a dozen — discussed and ranked their support for 23 pre-generated ideas to boost "courage and representation." The list included overhauls of campaign finance, civic education, a citizens' assembly, minor party ballot access, term limits and new methods of voting. The top ideas from the tour, Mascareñaz says, were campaign finance reform, better civic education, open political primaries, ranked choice voting and term limits for local leaders. Inside the room: The stop in Boulder drew 10 people. Mascareñaz started the hourlong conversation by outlining how representation is short-cut in Colorado because of noncompetitive seats in the state Legislature and Congress — a parallel talking point from the Prop. 131 campaign. Attendees expressed cynicism about the ability to change the status quo, but Mascareñaz urged them to stay engaged. "We didn't get into this challenge overnight. We're not going to solve it in one listening session," he said. What's next: This week, organizers are hosting a retreat in Leadville for advocacy groups to evaluate the data from the listening tour and consider a path forward.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
40% of Colorado county's roads deemed be in "poor" or "very poor" condition in 2024 report
40% of Arapahoe County's roads deemed to be in "poor" or "very poor" condition in report With years of deferred maintenance and not enough funding, some Arapahoe County roads are not getting the repairs they need and are quickly falling apart. County leaders say it's in part due to a major shortfall with the overall county budget and inflation. However, the county hopes that additional revenue generated by the passage of a ballot measure last November might help make much-needed road improvements. CBS The county's 2024 "Annual Report and Infrastructure Report Card" released this May shares more information about the status of the county's roads. The annual report assesses Arapahoe County's $1.7 billion in infrastructure, including roads and bridges, traffic signals, signs and guardrails. With more than 800 miles of roads to maintain within Arapahoe County, the report shows 40% of county roads were in "poor" or "very poor" condition in 2024. The other 60% of county roads were in "excellent, good or fair" condition, with the goal being 85% "It's not a huge shock," said Commissioner Jessica Campbell of District 2. " We've been in a budget shortfall for a while and falling behind. As we talked to our constituents, there was about $316.6 million of deferred maintenance last as of last year." Campbell says, for about 25 years, the county was constrained by the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) which limits how much tax revenue the government can keep. Arapahoe County was one of few counties out of 64 in the state that were constrained by TABOR. With voters passing ballot measure 1A in November, the county is now released from spending limits imposed by TABOR starting this year. "We weren't able to fully benefit from the growth that was coming in, and so as growth was coming in, and our tax dollars did not keep up with the needs, and the demand, and the wear and tear," Campbell continued. Record inflation, demand from residents and a growing community has also led to roads steadily deteriorating and maintenance being delayed for years. "It just is going to continue to degrade over time, and those repairs become more and more expensive over time," Campbell said. "So then it becomes harder and harder to catch up." County leaders say, while the passing of 1A is a step in the right direction, an additional $124 million would be needed to bring every asset to a "good" rating or better. "Even with 1A passing, things are still very tight, and we're facing budget constraints and shortfalls in different new other areas now," Campbell said. "So at least now we have some influx of dollars that can help us move forward on those matters within the ballot language." Campbell said the budget is formalized in a study session and then is discussed in October and passed in December. That's when the public works department gets a better understanding of how much more funding the department will have. Residents are also invited to Dove Valley Regional Park June 6 for a public works and development "play-date." There will be machines for kids to climb and interact with. It's also an opportunity for parents and residents to get a better understanding of road maintenance and the work done by the public works department. The county has also created a resident advisory committee to ensure funds are spent in alignment with what constituents have as a priority. The committee's first meeting is also happening in June. "The report is a snapshot of all the incredible work that our public works department is doing, but we want to do better, and we want to do more," Campbell said. "I think that's part of the urgency and why we as a board felt it necessary to refer a measure to our voters in 2024, not just because of infrastructure and roads, but public safety and public health and our housing issues. There are a lot of issues in the county, and we are here to take care of them."
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pueblo Republican launches bid to unseat Nick Hinrichsen in Colorado Senate District 3
A local healthcare practice manager with nearly 25 years of experience is venturing into politics as a 2026 Republican candidate for Colorado State Senate District 3. Dana Charles told the Chieftain she is "not a politician," but is running for a state Senate seat because she is concerned about state fees, high taxation and legislative "attacks" on rights. Charles lists affordability, parental rights, Second Amendment rights, public safety, and preserving Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), among her priorities. "I just was so tired of questioning whether our Pueblo legislators were actually working for the people of Pueblo," she told the Chieftain. "I felt like enough was enough and I wanted to bring a voice to the state Senate that you don't have to wonder about." On her website, Charles said that recent legislation passed by members of the Colorado General Assembly has "tied the hands of law enforcement" and jeopardized the safety of Pueblo residents. She also told the Chieftain that taxes and fees have hampered residents' ability to afford living in Colorado. "Every single time we go to do absolutely anything — whether it's to renew our vehicle registration, whether it's going to the grocery store and paying bag fees — we are taxed and (made to pay fees) to death," Charles said. As a supporter of TABOR — a 1992 amendment to the state constitution limiting the amount of tax revenue Colorado government can retain and spend — Charles strongly believes Colorado does not have a revenue shortage and that Colorado residents, not state government, know how to best spend their money. In addition to having 24 years of experience in healthcare, Charles is a lifelong Pueblo resident who has raised two sons. "We have an amazing community, and I plan to tout that in every way when I'm in the state Senate. Many of the members of even our own city council, I have known for many years," Charles said. "While we may disagree on certain issues, I believe that we can communicate in a way that is positive and helps continue to move Pueblo forward." Senate District 3 includes all of Pueblo County. Senate Majority Whip Nick Hinrichsen has held the seat since February 2022. As of May 19, Charles and Hinrichsen were the only candidates who'd filed to run for Senate District 3, according to the Colorado Secretary of State's Office. Charles has already raised $11,915 in monetary contributions and has spent over $2,547, according to Transparency in Contribution and Expenditure Reporting (TRACER) information accessed May 19. Hinrichsen has received over $6,752 and spent over $5,551. City Park Bathhouse: Pueblo leaders respond to preservationists' frustrations over rejected bathhouse proposal Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo Republican launches 2026 bid for Colorado Senate seat
Axios
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
TABOR lawsuit fails to gain traction in Colorado
The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights emerged intact from the legislative session despite a late challenge from its critics. State of play: Democratic lawmakers introduced a resolution to authorize a lawsuit challenging the voter-approved 1992 constitutional amendment but abandoned the effort in the final days of the session. The legal challenge sought to declare TABOR unconstitutional because it amounts to direct democracy, rather than the republican form of government outlined in the U.S. Constitution. TABOR restricts state revenue to inflation plus population growth, essentially taking the power of budget-setting out of lawmakers' hands, the sponsors argued. What they're saying: The resolution cleared a committee vote but languished on the House calendar. Democratic supporters blamed their party for lacking the political will to push ahead, even though 31 of the 43 Democrats in the state House — including the speaker — signed the resolution as co-sponsors. The other side: House Republican leaders counted the resolution's demise as one of their top accomplishments. If it came to a vote in the chamber, the party's members planned a prolonged debate that would have stalled lawmaking for hours as the clock ticked toward adjournment. Between the lines: This is the third high-profile attempt in seven years to challenge TABOR — each a failure. The other two came at the ballot box with voters rejecting Proposition CC in 2019 and Proposition HH in 2023. Both referendums sought to allow the state to keep more revenue than TABOR allowed. What to watch: The setback won't deter Democrats. The resolution's sponsors say they plan to give it a shot next session.
Axios
28-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
Healthy school meals program in jeopardy
Colorado offers every student a free breakfast and lunch at school — a two-year-old initiative so popular that it's now running short on money. Why it matters:"Kids who are hungry are also more likely to struggle with academic performance due to irritability, depression, anxiety and difficulty with concentration," Sandra Hoyt Stenmark, a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, said in a statement. By the numbers: The state is serving 194,000 breakfasts and 451,000 lunches at 1,805 sites a year, according to the Colorado Department of Education, which oversees the Healthy School Meals for All Program. The number of breakfasts and lunches served grew at least 30% last year and continues to rise. The latest: To keep the program alive, state lawmakers crafted two November ballot measures that ask voters for more money. One seeks voters' permission to keep $12.4 million state tax revenue that exceeded initial estimates, which otherwise must be refunded under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, TABOR. The second ballot question expands the program by curtailing tax deductions for those making more than $300,000 a year. It's expected to generate more than $95 million a year to make the program solvent. Friction point: If the referendums fail, authorities plan to shrink its scope and offer it to only the neediest schools. Catch up quick: Colorado voters approved Proposition FF in the 2022 election, making permanent a pandemic-era program. The program is powered by a tax hike on those who make $300,000 or more a year. It tallied a deficit in its first two years and expects to fall $42 million short next year. The tight budget year meant lawmakers couldn't cover the gap as they succeeded in doing the first two years. What they're saying: In an interview, state Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City) touted the program's popularity and how it has "completely changed lunch culture. … There's no more lunch shaming."
