The Denver Gazette reports on a Democrat-backed ballot measure, Senate Bill 135, that would raid TABOR refunds under the banner of helping K-12 education. But a nonpartisan analysis says about 75% of the money taxpayers would otherwise get back would not actually go to K-12 schools. It would go into the state’s general fund, where Democrat lawmakers could spend it on whatever they want next. fileciteturn2file0
The analysis says every Colorado taxpayer could lose $7,381 in TABOR refunds between the 2026-27 and 2036-37 fiscal years. Democrats say this is needed to avoid budget cuts. Translation: they grew government, broke the budget, and now want to call your refund “their revenue.”
The Bullet Point Brief
- Democrats are selling this as K-12 funding. Naturally, most of the money would not go to K-12. That is not a detail. That is the scam.
- The analysis says only about 24% would go to schools over 10 years, while more than $28.5 billion could land in the general fund.
- Taxpayers could lose $7,381 each in TABOR refunds. That is your money, constitutionally promised back to you.
- Sen. Jeff Bridges says the state needs this to avoid cuts. Maybe Democrats should stop spending like teenagers with someone else’s credit card.
- Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer warned the higher cap could open the door to billions more in fees. Democrats do love a tax with a fake mustache.
My Bottom Line
This should infuriate Colorado’s Great Suburban Normie.
TABOR refunds are not a gift from Denver. They are not a little thank-you card from the Capitol. They are constitutionally protected dollars returned to taxpayers because government collected too much.
But Democrat ruling elites know the magic words. “For the children.” Say that, put a school bus in the mailer, maybe add a smiling teacher, and half the suburbs will vote yes before reading paragraph two.
Then the money goes where the money always goes. Into the general fund swamp, where Democrats can sweep it into the next pet project, patch the next budget hole, or feed the next bureaucracy they created.
This is the game. Democrats take your money, dress it up as compassion, and count on busy suburban voters to stay distracted by Instagram reels long enough not to notice.
Put the phone down. Read the fine print. Follow the money.
Source: The Denver Gazette
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