Vote No on Propositions 116 and 117: We get stuck with the bill

VOTE NO| Michael Eduardo Cortés. (Foto/ Cortesía CLLARO)

DEBATE – PROPOSITION 116 AND 117

On November 3, Colorado voters will decide whether or not they want to lower the state income tax (Proposition 116) and give voters the right to approve utility rates (Proposition 117). Know the arguments for and against the proposals.

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Michael Eduardo Cortés

Executive Director CLLARO

Serving our community is sometimes hard, this spring our budget writers had to cut $3.4 Billion in state funds – more than 25% of our state general fund – it was extremely hard. Many worked to reduce the impact on our state but there was only so much we could do to soften the blow.

Colorado’s economy is showing signs of recovery from the COVID-19 crisis but this November that recovery faces two major threats: Proposition 116 and 117. These measures would deliver a double blow that hurts our ability to get back on track. Proposition 116 cuts our state income tax from 4.63% to 4.55%, I know that tax relief sounds good right now but for most families this only amounts to $37 a year, less than a dollar a week. Meanwhile the impact on our state budget would be over $150 Million a year and more than $200 Million in the first year that we would have to cut from schools, transportation and healthcare.

Proposition 117 jeopardizes funding for essential programs here in Colorado under the guise of allowing voters to decide on new fees via “enterprise funds”. Enterprise funds currently fill many gaps in public services as a result of our complicated budget system here in Colorado. Tuition for higher education, state parks, even the Capitol parking garage is an enterprise. These are services that not everyone in our state uses. It makes sense to keep them separate from our general fund as they are direct payments for goods and services. The actual impact of this vague and confusing measure is to stick taxpayers with the bill for services only some use.

A lot of us are struggling right now, the proponents of these measures are counting on folks falling for their offer of “relief” but this relief will mostly be for the wealthiest in Colorado, not for working families. These measures will mean money in the pockets of the wealthy and cuts to our schools, transportation and healthcare. The cost to our state is too big and too risky.