Legislators can raise school district property taxes without getting new voter approval, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday.
The decision marks a major victory for supporters of school finance reform who have watched Colorado struggle to fund its schools, even as K-12 education takes up a growing share of the state budget.
With news of the Supreme Court’s blessing, state senators Monday approved a bill that would gradually increase local taxes in many school districts, generating more than $91 million for schools next year and more than $288 million a year when fully implemented.
The extra money will come from local taxpayers, not state coffers. Republicans Sens. Kevin Priola of Brighton, Bob Rankin of Carbondale, and Don Coram of Montrose joined Democrats in what was otherwise a party-line vote.
Colorado Supreme Court clears way for property tax increase, more school funding msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Panic buying gas creates even more hours on the road for hazardous material truckers
Panic buying gas creates even more hours on the road for hazardous material truckers By Miranda Parnell | May 11, 2021 at 11:34 PM EDT - Updated May 11 at 11:56 PM
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Russian hackers have caused turmoil up and down the east coast with their cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline. But petroleum distribution experts say, taking more gas than you need just adds fuel to the fire.
“The biggest concern we have right now is panic buying,” said Michael Fields the executive director at the South Carolina Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association. “I’ve seen some pictures that have been very disheartening of people that are filling gas cans just over and over…when you add that to what we already have with the pipeline disruption.that adds a real problem to what we already have.”
Colorado State Capitol, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020.
Democrats in Colorado are attempting one of the biggest changes to the state’s tax code in years.
Two new proposals introduced Monday are meant to deliver relief for lower-income families and small businesses by effectively raising the taxes of certain large businesses and wealthier people, lawmakers said.
The bills would raise about $400 million a year by eliminating or reducing some of the tax deductions taken by higher-income taxpayers and businesses, and then spend most of that money about $250 million on measures aimed at helping lower-income families and small businesses.
“I think the word ‘fairness’ is my North Star here ensuring that we are supporting our low-and middle-income Coloradans and small businesses, and not protecting the special interests walking the halls of the Capitol,” said state Rep. Emily Sirota, who is cosponsoring the new bills, HB 1311 and HB 1312, with state Rep. Mike Weissman and senato
The new transportation plan to fix Colorado's roads calls for billions of dollars in taxpayer money. Calling it "fees" helps keep TABOR out of the equation.