mandated services

What's churning:

Senate Bill 11-126, which would create a form of resident tuition for undocumented students who meet certain requirements, is scheduled for a hearing in the House Education Committee at 1:30 this afternoon.

By Amy Gillentine
Colorado Springs Business Journal

Undocumented immigrants are a significant contributor to the state's economy, according to a new study by the Bell Policy Center and the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.

According to the two groups, illegal immigrants contribute as much to the economy in sales, property and income taxes as they cost the state in mandated services such as K-12 education.

Other research finds:

By Scot Kersgaard
The Colorado Independent

Two studies released today indicate that 180,000 undocumented immigrants live in Colorado. They pay a combined $167.5 million in taxes each year and cost the state a combined $166.6 million in services according to a study by The Bell Policy Center.

Of the taxes, the bulk, $114.5 million, comes from sales taxes. Income taxes, assuming half of undocumented residents are paid on the books and half paid under the table, amounts to $30.9 million. The last $22 million is from property taxes.

Colorado's undocumented immigrants pay as much in taxes as they consume in mandated social services, according to a study Friday from The Bell Policy Center.

The state's estimated 180,000 undocumented immigrants paid $167.5 million in taxes in 2010, the Denver nonprofit's study said.

The largest share came from sales taxes - $114.6 million - with another $30.9 million paid in income taxes and $22 million in property taxes covered mostly through rent payments.

Big Government backers, The Bell Policy Center, have come out with what we first thought was a weeks-late April Fools joke, but instead appears to be a sad attempt to claim illegal immigration is in fact a net positive for Colorado's economy and taxpayers.

"New research shows that undocumented immigrants in Colorado are a significant contributor to the state's economy and that undocumented immigrants contribute as much in sales, property and income taxes as they cost in K-12 education and other mandated services."