tax exemptions

Urban and Rural Enterprise Zone Act Reforms

House Bill 13-1142

George Awuor, Policy Analyst
Testimony to the Senate Finance Committee
Tuesday, April 16, 2013

My name is George Awuor and I am a Policy Analyst at the Bell Policy Center. The Bell is a non-partisan, non-profit research and advocacy organization founded on progressive values and dedicated to expanding opportunity for all Coloradans.

Ed Sealover
Denver Business Journal

Two major business groups pulled their support from a bill to reform Colorado's enterprise-zone program Wednesday when its sponsor lowered the annual caps on investment tax credits, but Democrats on the House Finance Committee still passed House Bill 1142 on a party-line vote.

Urban and Rural Enterprise Zone Act Reforms

­­­­House Bill 13-1142

George Awuor, policy analyst, and Rich Jones, director of policy and research
Testimony to the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­House Finance Committee
March 13, 2013

We have been saying for several years that Colorado's enterprise zone program has not been effective at promoting economic growth.

In 2009, we released a review of research that showed enterprise zone tax credits resulted in minimal long-term investment and few, if any, jobs – the primary objectives when the program was established in 1987.

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.

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.