But he’s not the Tabor we’re concerned with here. The Tabor that haunts Colorado is the TAxpayer’s Bill Of Rights. And despite the citizen friendly title, this bill of rights was just an attempt to hamstring the government. And in that respect, it’s been working quite well. But working to the benefit of Colorado’s citizens, not so much.

Colorado voters approved Tabor in 1992 as an amendment to the Colorado Constitution. It placed a cap on State income growth based on that year’s budget, and allowed adjustments by inflation and population growth only. What it did not allow was state income growth based upon the growth of the economy. So as our economy grew faster than those two metrics, the State of Colorado saw an actual income drop. A rather precipitously drop, in fact. This single act has crippled the state’s ability to keep up on our roads or properly fund the forest service, for example. A key impediment to achieving our goals of saving the forests, improving wages and aiding education is Tabor. It requires that the state return any money it “over collects” from taxes to the public. And that is about to happen again.

Between now and 2025, the State of Colorado will refund over 4.7 billion dollars to the taxpayers. This after lowering the State income rates tax recently, to try to stop over collecting those funds. The thing is: this money could really help protect our state and build a future for everyone.

$4.7 billion could treat almost every forest stand that needs thinning, is accessible and permissible.*

It could re-fund our schools and return after-school activities, field trips and civics classes. Now who would’ve wanted to eliminate civics classes in the first place?

It could modernize our energy infrastructure and provide for training for new energy workers.

The public would still be getting the money, because it would all be used for the public benefit. It will create jobs, in some cases jobs that never existed before. These folks will pay their taxes and shop at our stores and elevate our local economies. This is what society is about, citizens lifting each other up–not just a few guys in the island-owning class benefiting no one but themselves.

We can overturn Tabor, and if elected my first task will be to find partners to sponsor a ballot initiative to do  just that.

*While we can’t stop the return of funds already allocated for refund by law, we can stop it from happening again and let the full benefits of our vibrant economy fund necessary programs. And when we get our checks, we could send them back. I pledge to do just that, and the more of us who do so, the faster the state will have funds to pursue the business that is was designed for. Together we are strong, united we are a great economic power. That’s what it means to be a society.