Colorado Nov. 5 ballot question would benefit roads

Voters in Colorado will decide next week on the Nov. 5 ballot whether to permit the state to keep more of their money to help with transportation and education costs.

Proposition CC would permit excess revenues that now are refunded to taxpayers to instead be kept by the state.

Colorado law now caps the state’s revenue, under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. In place since 1992, TABOR requires voter approval for all new taxes, tax rate increases, or tax policy changes that result in increased tax revenue.

Passage of the Nov. 5 ballot question would permit the state to retain excess revenue for transportation and education purposes.

Upon voter approval, excess revenue estimated at up to $1 billion in the first two years would be applied for education and transportation. Public education and higher education would receive two-thirds of the revenue and transportation would receive the rest.

Gov. Jared Polis has said he supports the ballot question to allow the state to keep tax revenue it already collects.

“This common-sense policy doesn’t alter the right of citizens to vote on taxes, but allows Colorado to keep pace with a growing economy,” Polis said in previous remarks about the Nov. 5 ballot question.

Critics say state government has plenty of money via the state budget growing by $1 billion annually. Instead of keeping more taxpayer dollars, they say the state needs to prioritize better.

Other recent Colorado coverage

Land Line has reported on several other Colorado stories this fall in addition to the Nov. 5 ballot question.

A new law in Colorado calls for the regulation of private vehicle “booting” companies in the state. OOIDA wants to be sure big truck drivers are protected too.

Also, as winter was approaching, the Colorado Department of Transportation launched a safety program called The Mountain Rules to educate commercial vehicle operators on the challenges of driving in Colorado’s moutains.