Colorado TABOR Refunds Face a $6 Billion Ballot Grab

CBS News Colorado reports that Coloradans will vote in November on a referred ballot measure from the legislature that would change the state’s revenue cap and allow the state to keep more money that otherwise would be refunded under TABOR. The measure comes from Senate Bill 135, which passed the Colorado General Assembly and would let the state retain an additional $6 billion in revenue.

According to CBS, money kept above the revenue cap would go into an excess state revenues account inside the general fund. The bill also creates a children’s account and would increase state public K-12 education funding by up to 2% for 10 years. The bill requires school districts to be paid first, but CBS notes it does not specify how the state may use the remaining funds after that.

This was a surprise to absolutely no one. Of course the ruling Democrats under the Gold Dome passed this to the voters. Of course they did. And of course the teachers union applauded. Of course it did. The playbook is old enough to have a pension: slap “for the children” on a giant government money grab and wait for the suburban normies to start humming campaign jingles in the ballot drop-box line.

The Bullet Point Brief

• Senate Bill 135 sends voters a November ballot measure asking whether the state can keep an extra $6 billion that would usually be refunded under TABOR. Translation: “May we keep your money?” but with nicer lighting.
• The measure would put excess revenue into an account inside the general fund, create a children’s account, and increase K-12 funding by up to 2% for 10 years.
• CBS reports that school districts get paid first, but the bill does not specify how the state may use the remaining funds. That is not a school funding plan. That is a fiscal buffet with a children’s menu taped to the front.
• Colorado Senate Republicans called it a blank check and argued that only a tiny fraction is statutorily required to go to K-12 education, while the rest becomes broader state spending authority.
• The Colorado Education Association applauded the bill, saying it would help close the education funding gap, reduce class sizes, improve educator pay and retention, and support students. Naturally. When government asks to keep more taxpayer money, the applause section already has reserved seating.

My Bottom Line

This is your money.

Not the state’s money. Not the legislature’s money. Not the governor’s money. Not the teachers union’s money. Your money. TABOR refunds are not some magical government bonus the peasants should be grateful to receive when the philosopher kings feel generous. They are guaranteed under the Colorado Constitution because the people of this state had the good sense to put a leash on government.

And now the Gold Dome crowd wants the leash loosened again. Shocking. The never-satisfied-with-the-dollars-they-already-have Democrats want more spending authority, and they are packaging it in the softest wrapping paper available: the children. That phrase has done more heavy lifting in bad public policy than a rented mule at harvest time.

The teachers union should be angry, frankly. If this were really and cleanly about K-12 education, then write it that way. Lock it down. Put the money where the slogan says it goes. But as CBS reports, after the districts are paid first, the bill does not specify how the state may use the remaining funds. That means a lot of this can become general fund money for a government that already acts like every taxpayer wallet is an unattended buffet.

And here comes the tragic part. The great zombie-esque suburban normie will shuffle toward November, hear “for the children,” nod solemnly, and vote yes without asking the obvious question: how much of this actually reaches the classroom? Not the system. Not the bureaucracy. Not the consultants. Not the administrative blob. The classroom.

Wake up, Colorado. This is your money. If you want to give the state more of it, that is your vote. But at least know what you are doing. Do not let them sell you a schoolhouse and deliver a slush fund with finger paint on the label. The people get the government they deserve, and if we keep falling for this routine, we deserve the receipt.

Source: CBS News