tax credits

Randy Woock
Trinidad Times

A bill to monitor and review tax credits and other exemptions by the state that result in reduced tax revenues, and provide that information to the legislature and public in annual reports, was killed in committee last week.

Rich Jones, Director of Policy and Research
The Bell Policy Center
Feb. 24, 2011

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. I am Rich Jones, the director of policy and research with the Bell Policy Center. The Bell is a non-partisan, non-profit research and advocacy organization dedicated to making Colorado a state of opportunity for all. We have worked on state fiscal issues for nearly a decade because we know having an effective public sector partner is essential to building the state of opportunity we envision.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Written Testimony before the House Finance Committee

My name is George Awuor, and I am a policy analyst with The Bell Policy Center. The Bell is a non-partisan, non-profit research and policy organization dedicated to expanding opportunity for all Coloradans.

Rich Jones, director of policy and research at the Bell Policy Center, testified on Thursday in favor of House Bill 1052, which would add pay-as-you-go requirements to new tax exemptions and credits.

We are disappointed to report that the bill died in a 6-6 vote of the House Finance Committee.

We supported the bill because we believe it would add accountability and transparency to the budget process, and we believe it is only common sense to weigh the costs and benefits of tax credits and exemptions in pursuit of policy goals.

House Bill 11-1052 – Concerning the Adoption of Pay-As-You-Go Requirements

Rich Jones, Director of Policy and Research
The Bell Policy Center
February 10, 2011

By Steve Raabe
The Denver Post

Colorado businesses endured a bruising legislative session in what some observers say was one of the tougher in memory for companies.

Charged with closing a huge budget shortfall, the Colorado legislature passed a slew of bills that eliminated tax exemptions long enjoyed by the business sector.

The removal of exemptions and tax credits is expected to cost Colorado businesses $100 million to $133 million a year.

The General Assembly has gotten off to a fast start, and Bell Policy Center staffers have testified on bills we believe will improve access to insurance, increase educational opportunities and add some balance as the state wrestles with its budget shortfall.

Yesterday, policy fellow Debra Judy submitted an Opportunity Note in favor of House Bill 1008, which would prohibit consideration of gender in setting insurance premium rates.

Package of bills to limit, suspend or repeal
several tax exemptions and tax credits

***
Prepared Testimony to the Joint Meeting
of the House and Senate Finance Committees
Colorado General Assembly

Rich Jones
Director of Policy and Research
The Bell Policy Center

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.

Gov. Bill Ritter presented his budget for fiscal year 2010-11 to members of the Joint Budget Committee today.

He is requesting a $7.2 billion General Fund budget for fiscal year 2010-2011, which begins on July 1, 2010. This budget closes a $1 billion shortfall between projected General Fund revenues and expenditures and comes on the heels of a $2 billion shortfall in fiscal year 2009-10.

The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has delivered a list of business tax breaks to the governor's office that it thinks should be preserved to prevent damaging the state's economic recovery.