So, Can You Just Fix My Damn Property Tax Bill Now?
Despite the best efforts of Gov. Jared Polis and his Democratic allies, Colorado voters have spoken loud and clear on Tuesday, rejecting Proposition HH in a landslide vote.
This defeat sends a strong message to Democrats that taxpayers do not want complicated ballot measures and certainly do not want their hard-earned Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) refunds being used to fix the state's property tax issues.
Unofficial results showed the measure losing by a whopping 61% to 39%. And it's no surprise why… Proposition HH was convoluted and difficult to understand, with even the experts at Ballotpedia rating it as "very difficult" to read.
But perhaps the biggest reason for the measure's defeat is that voters simply do not trust the legislature when it comes to their refunds.
Time and time again, Coloradans have shown their disdain for Democratic attempts to keep TABOR refunds, whether it be through Proposition CC in 2019 or the 25 out of 36 statewide ballot measures designed to increase state revenues since the passage of TABOR in 1992.
So, what will the next steps be now that Proposition HH has been defeated?
Gov. Polis has stated that he is considering "next steps," but the options are limited. Waiting until January raises concerns that property tax increases will hit Coloradans before the legislature can act, and calling a special session is not a guarantee.
House Minority Leader Mike Lynch has been advocating for an easy legislative solution to Colorado's property tax mess for over a year, with no interest from Democrats. It seems now, with the defeat of Proposition HH, the governor may finally be willing to work with Republicans to fix this issue.
One thing is for sure: Gov. Polis and his Democratic allies cannot continue to ignore the will of the voters.
READ MORE:
WALL STREET JOURNAL WARNS COLORADANS ABOUT HIDDEN TAX HIKES IN PROP HH
NEW POLL SHOWS COLORADANS TRUST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SOLVE ATTAINABLE HOUSING ISSUES
Coloradans have spoken, and they want their TABOR refunds protected. It's time for Democrats to listen and work towards finding a solution that does not involve taking more money from hardworking taxpayers. Let's hope they see the light and put the needs of Colorado taxpayers first.