Editorial —
Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer
Philip Anschutz
Governor Jared Polis
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has called another special session to address the problems with extraordinarily high property taxes caused by the elimination of the Gallagher Amendment to the State Constitution in 2020. The Gallagher Amendment was originally adopted in 1982 and froze the homeowner real property tax rate at 7.15%.
The repeal of the Gallagher Amendment was backed by chambers of commerce, business groups, and Colorado Concern, a consortium of wealthy businessmen. The repeal was passed by a 58% to 42% margin. Then came the sticker shock to homeowners.
Polis, afraid of political backlash, called a special season of the state legislature in 2023 to address the issue. But the session granted only short-term minimal relief to homeowners while robbing taxpayers of state Tabor refunds to benefit low-income taxpayers. Republicans like State Senator (and moral reprobate) Barbara Kirkmeyer celebrated that con job on homeowners along with Democrat legislators.
This is one of the times the business class is in sync with the governmental entities which have become bloated with tax revenues as a result of the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment.
Advance Colorado, a political advocacy group funded by Phil Anschutz, proposed, to control the anger of the homeowners, two ballot issues that would address the problem, but that is little more than a ruse to make sure the business and governmental classes control the process.
The governor has now called a second special session for August 26 which has been preceded by a negotiation between the different sides. With Advance Colorado on the side of homeowners and Colorado Concern on the side of businesses.
But it is really a negotiation between Phil Anschutz and Phil Anschutz. The billionaire is a prominent member of Colorado Concern and the main donor of Advance Colorado.
By the time you read this editorial the special session will be over, and you will be able to assess how screwed over the average homeowner was. Of course, it could be that that problem has been solved and homeowners having prevailed with a fair solution. It could happen even if it has almost never happened in Colorado history in similar circumstances. There is always a first time! We wait with bated breath.
— Editorial Board