After we all opened our property tax bills this year you could almost hear a statewide sigh of frustration, anger, and discouragement.
And sure enough, riding a white horse to rescue us is Governor Polis and his knights, and knaves of the legislature with Proposition HH held high in the air on each government representatives lance- well at least the government representatives on the Polis side.
Wording is everything and Proposition HH starts out with these glowing words to those of us still in shock over our property tax bills.
“Shall the state reduce property taxes for homes and businesses, including property taxes for seniors…..”
What sweet words to my 70-year-old ears. In the words of the ginsu knife salesman of late-night television, “But WAIT, there’s more…..”
Proposition HH WILL NOT reduce property taxes.
It will reduce the residential assessment rate by .065%, and exempt $40,000 from the home’s value for tax purposes. But WAIT, the cost to you is by taking your TABOR refunds.
The TABOR amendment, which was approved by voters in 1992, limits the amount of revenue the State of Colorado can retain and spend. Specifically, TABOR allows the state to retain and spend an amount based on the prior fiscal year's actual revenue or limit, whichever was lower, grown by Colorado inflation and population growth and adjusted for any 'voter-approved revenue changes.'
Instead, with Proposition HH the resolution further asks, “shall the state….backfill counties, water districts, fire districts, ambulance districts and other local governments and school districts” by using a PORTION of the state surplus money laying around.
That money laying around is YOUR money, owed to you by the state because of TABOR. And, with an additional verbal sleight of hand, note the word PORTION. Some of that money will be used to reduce your property tax INCREASE from 32% to 25% but the rest of the money will go into the General Fund Exemption Account- as one writer said, “A giant Slush fund for all the extra tax money the state will be taking from YOU.”
The only reason that Proposition HH is on the ballot is that the state needs your approval to steal your money. That money they’re playing with belongs to you from TABOR.
By the way, deceitful language on the 2020 ballot got voters to pass Amendment B which removed a mechanism in place to- yes, you guessed it- keep property taxes in check.
But Amendment B is spilt milk. Proposition HH is here and now.
Oh, one more thing.
Supporters of the measure might point out that the measure includes a provision to cap property tax revenue increases at the LOCAL level but it also gives each local government the authority to eliminate that cap unilaterally WITHOUT additional voter consent. What local government official worth his salt is not going to take advantage of that little perk?
Sorry about all of the capitals. I’m not a big fan of them, but I am upset.
Through devious language, with untrue statements the legislature and King Jared are planning to get back the TABOR money we voted on.
So, as my English teacher in high school used to say, let’s review the facts.
Proposition HH will not lower your property taxes.
We are facing astronomical growth in property taxes over the next several years and might want to consider getting the majority of the people in the legislature out of the legislature, but we’ll leave that for another time.
What tax relief you will get leaves a 25% property tax increase instead of a 32% increase. And that money is already yours.
Your TABOR money will likely disappear from the government budget line items and become part of the General Fund Exemption Account. That’s a fun little place where the legislature takes your money and spends it on whatever they want to.
I can’t understand how a single Republican, Democrat or Independent would vote for this legalized theft.
Shame on you if you do.