Supporters of Proposition HH Launch $1 Million Ad Blitz
As Election Day approaches, the push for Proposition HH, the 10-year property tax relief plan, has intensified with a last-minute spending surge by the proponents of the measure.
According to reports filed by the Property Tax Relief Now committee, a whopping $1 million-plus has been invested in advertising and messaging campaigns since October 13th alone. The committee has spent nearly $700,000 on TV and streaming ads, along with $250,000 on mailers and $200,000 on digital ads.
How is this sudden surge in funding possible? The answer lies with liberal political nonprofits, commonly referred to as "dark-money" groups. These organizations, which keep their donors secret, have contributed vastly to the Yes on HH campaign.
Sixteen Thirty Fund, a national group, donated $350,000 on October 20th, while Education Reform Now Advocacy, another national group, contributed $100,000 on October 13th. Additionally, Boldly Forward, which has ties to Governor Jared Polis, has contributed $75,000 to the campaign.
In total, the Yes on HH committee has received $760,000 in the last fundraising period, spending nearly $1.3 million during that time. Senate President Steve Fenberg, a Democrat from Boulder and one of the architects of the measure, stated that the committee's goal is to educate voters on the importance of the ballot initiative. He also warned that if Proposition HH fails, property taxes will increase.
Meanwhile, the opponents of Proposition HH raised their cash earlier and have already spent $2.4 million attacking the measure through mailers and ads. However, as of October 25th, they only had $125,000 left in their campaign accounts, compared to the $670,000 remaining in the Yes on HH account. This sudden influx of funds has brought the two sides closer in terms of fundraising and spending.
But who exactly is funding the opposition to Proposition HH? Advance Colorado Action, a conservative political nonprofit, has contributed nearly $1.2 million to the No on HH campaign.
The recent campaign ad from Yes on Prop HH has been exposed as false by 9News and news anchor Kyle Clark.
Along with dark-money groups Defend Colorado and Ready Colorado, the opposition has also received $375,000 from Americans for Prosperity, a national conservative political nonprofit. The Colorado Association of Realtors and TABOR Coalition have also contributed to the cause.
As we near Election Day, the battle over Proposition HH continues to escalate, with millions of dollars spent by both sides to sway voters.
READ MORE:
The complexity of the measure, which promises property tax relief but also redirects funds from tax refunds to schools and other agencies, has made it a highly contested and controversial topic. With such high stakes on both sides, it is crucial for voters to fully understand the implications of Proposition HH before casting their ballots.