Just a few comments. If you haven't already, please read our posts about TABOR here:

https://www.coloradoecea.org/news/32825-ecea-child-care-update

https://www.coloradoecea.org/news/4325-ecea-child-care-update

https://www.coloradoecea.org/news/4325-legislators-seek-to-remove-tabor-through-a-lawsuit

Some notes from the meeting: (our comments are in parenthesis and their comments are not)

Referendum C Cap kept the TABOR cap from shrinking. (This has resulted in a $40 Billion tax revenue loss for citizens after the 5 year timeout period since 2011.)

The Gold Bars are "Tabor surplus" that has to be returned to the citizens. It can also result in a decreased tax rate the following year so that there is not over collecting again. These payments are paid out in a variety of ways. (Senior homestead payments, etc.--see slide)

The things that Governments provide are growing much faster.

They say that "When the cap is too low" we have to send money back.

They say:

Tech demands for classrooms require greater investment in classrooms.

We want a greater standard of care. (Of course that requires greater government expenditures).

Populations have grown 50% but projected population for seniors and children is higher so their needs will present greater costs for the state. (greater than the annual increasing rate that is already in place?)

"It's a tough revenue year. COVID funds are dropping off."

OF COURSE THEY ARE!! COVID funds were used to create infrastructure that we reminded CDEC would have to GO AWAY when the funding was spent. Instead, because they are Governor priorities, the positions remained. Now their cost has to be covered out of other revenue streams. Those aren't available so they want Colorado citizens to trust the government to spend the money on state priorities

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Other things to consider that we think about:

Notice on the graph that the TABOR funds fluctuate heavily. You can't build or support a program effectively with fluctuating funds. That means that if the state gets TABOR removed, they will have to increase the tax so that it will continually cover every new program development, infrastructure increase, etc. across 20 principal departments in the state of Colorado.

Why has Colorado established such an ANTI BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT? Don't we want wealthy people to come here (no progressive tax against them because of TABOR). Don't we want them to build businesses here and and invest in the state economy? Don't we want abandoned infrastructure that exists across the state to be revitalized and create new workforce opportunities for our Colorado residents? Rescinding TABOR is short sighted. It is an awfully great way to drive people OUT of this beautiful state. Fires in CA are resulting in a visible political shift. Wondering if the legislative attempt to have courts intervene to get rid of it will be that "Fire" for Colorado citizens? There was a reason this was put into the constitution. Challenging that inherently changes our state into a DO FOR state (in everything) instead of the YOU CAN DO IT state that Colorado has historically been.