GOP chair calls Republicans out over tax plans, despite previously backing TABOR refund raid
Just as a special session convenes to discuss what property tax reform state lawmakers are willing to offer in the wake of Proposition HH’s defeat, Republicans are already seeing conflict within the ranks over details, especially concerning the notion of ‘backfilling’ local governments.
On Wednesday, Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams issued a news release accusing fellow Republicans of plotting “bait-and-switch schemes,” and vowing to notify its members of any Republican who votes to “grow government and be fiscally irresponsible.”
“What’s unexpected is learning how some Republican lawmakers want to bail out governments who aren’t losing revenue instead of solely making taxpayers whole and protecting them from losing their homes,” Williams said in his release. “The Colorado Republican Party will oppose any measure that attempts to backfill or “buffer” local governments with taxpayer dollars, whether from General Fund Reserves or TABOR Surplus.”
Yet, just one year ago, both then-state Rep. Williams, and then Rep. Kevin Van Winkle — whose Senate bill Williams is calling on fellow Republicans to support — were firmly on the same side as nearly every other Republican when they voted in favor of and signed on as co-sponsors to a bill backfilling local governments under the same exact scenario for property tax years 2023 and 2024. That bill was sponsored by fellow Douglas County Republican Patrick Neville.
Most notable, however, is that according to the fiscal note on the Williams/Van Winkle supported SB-238, the first $240 million of the backfill is paid for by raiding TABOR refunds, with any additional needs being paid from the General Fund.