Budget

By John Tomasic
The Colorado Independent

The Bell Policy Center brought out a video Friday explaining what the "Bad Three" tax-slashing proposed constitutional amendments would mean for Colorado and urging citizens to vote them down in November. The progressive organization argues that the initiatives – Amendments 60 and 61 and proposition 101 – would effectively impoverish the state and force the elimination of essential services. That assessment is shared by most all of the major candidates for office and by lawmakers on all sides of the political spectrum.

By Randy Woock
The Trinidad Times

The board of education for Trinidad School District No.1 came out in opposition at its Aug. 24 board meeting to a series of ballot initiatives intended to curtail a number of state and local taxes and fees.

The resolution approved unanimously by the board calls the initiatives "unnecessary" due to the state constitution already containing provisions that, "require the state to balance its budget and that give citizens the right to vote on all tax increases and creation of debt."

As debate over three fiscal ballot measures – Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 – intensifies, it is important to understand how Colorado compares in terms of expenditures and taxes.

By Tim Hoover
The Denver Post

The process of writing the state's Blue Book, the voter guide sent to Coloradans explaining ballot measures, is usually contentious.

But this year's battle over language describing three tax-slashing ballot measures –  Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 – has been especially nasty at times.

By Eileen Welsome
The Gazette (Colorado Springs)

The fiscally conservative members of the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners have come out in opposition to three ballot issues that opponents say could have catastrophic consequences for local and state government.

The five-member board is set to ratify a resolution on Thursday that states that Amendment 60, Amendment 61 and Proposition 101 would "have a long-lasting detrimental impact on the residents of El Paso County." The pending vote follows an Aug. 19 discussion on the measures.

By Joe Hanel
The Durango Herald

DENVER – A Democratic candidate for attorney general has charged that the payday lending industry might be improperly influencing rules for the high-interest loans.

Attorney general candidate Stan Garnett says campaign contributions to incumbent John Suthers, a Republican, are suspicious because they happened while Suthers' office is writing new rules for the industry.

"Coincidence? You decide, and then decide who you want as your attorney general," Garnett said in an online video he released Thursday.

By Randy Woock
The Trinidad Times

The Bell Policy Center's analysis of the possible impact of upcoming ballot initiative Proposition 101 asserts that Las Animas County would see a drastic decline in the county government's revenue from ownership taxes and license fees paid on motor vehicle registrations.