Currently On Air:

Today we take a look at Proposition NN, titled "keep and spend money for education and other purposes". Proposition NN would allow the state to keep some or all of the revenue that the state's constitutional revenue, or Tabor, limit, would otherwise require to be refunded to taxpayers, up to the amount the state spends on public education, then spend the retained revenue to increase funding for K-12 education and programs that support children, and any other purposes to be determined by the state legislature. Proponents say Proposition NN will raise teacher pay, reduce class sizes, and improve career and technical education, by redirecting money the state already collects to Colorado's kids and classrooms. Proponents say that permanent relief from the Tabor limit is long overdue. Opponents say Proposition NN is essentially a tax increase, permanently eliminating or reducing Tabor refunds, and for households already stretched thin, losing Tabor refunds is a significant financial hit. Opponents say Proposition NN eventually hands the state over $5 billion per year at the expense of Colorado families and while funding has increased for Colorado schools by 25% over the past 5 years, enrollment continues to decline. A "yes" vote allows the state to keep some or all of the revenue that would otherwise be refunded to taxpayers under Tabor. The retained revenue would be spent on K-12 education, on programs supporting children and on any other purpose. A "no" vote would maintain current Tabor spending limits and tabor refunds. My commentary? Proposition NN is one of three ballot issues this year that seeks to severely limit or destroy Tabor spending caps and tabor refunds, and using children and school funding to make it sound like it would be for a good cause. The same tactic was used when marijuana was legalized, and just where has the money gone that was supposed to go to schools? Who knows? Don't be fooled. This is a way to get rid of Tabor clothed in helping schools and children. The Colorado Constitution already requires the legislature to fully fund education as mandated by Amendment 23, however, the legislature consistently fails to meet what is their legal obligation.

Today we take a look at Amendment 87, titled "graduated income tax". Amendment 87 would remove the constitutional requirement that the state income tax be set at a single flat rate, and instead, replaces that flat income tax with a graduated state income tax that sets lower rates for lower incomes and higher rates for higher incomes. Amendment 87 also exempts any additional revenue collected under the measure from the state's constitutional revenue, or Tabor, limit. Proponents say Amendment 87 cuts taxes for 97% of taxpayers, including most households and small businesses, while increasing taxes only for top earners who have the ability to pay. They say a graduated income tax is more equitable than a flat tax. Opponents say the measure is a multi-billion-dollar tax increase, hiking taxes on higher incomes and will hurt Colorado's economy, and is an attack on the fair and predictable tax system that tabor currently guarantees. A "yes" vote creates the new graduated state income tax and raises the state's Tabor spending limit. A "no" vote keeps the current flat state income tax. My commentary on this one... Be careful - even Governor Jared Polis has come out against this one. Lowering taxes on 97% of Coloradans sounds good, but raising the Tabor limit is actually a tax increase on all Coloradans. This measure would almost double taxation on anyone or businesses making $500,000 or more per year. That's almost a 100% tax increase, making only 3% of Coloradans carry the majority of the tax load.