Posted on 01/03/2006 8:11:36 AM PST by george76
Colorado businesses might think that with the Colorado fiscal crunch eased thanks to Referendum C, now might be the perfect time to sell tax breaks that stimulate industry in the name of job creation.
Actually, say political observers, the exact opposite is true for the 2006 legislative session - and perhaps several sessions thereafter.
"The political dynamic is such that no tax-reduction or relief measures would have any chance of passage for the next five years," said Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Auto Dealers Association. "It's just a fact of life."
Freed from TABOR restraints
Ward said the chamber held a late-December meeting of Ref C "stakeholders," such as the Colorado Contractors Association, the Colorado Education Association, the Colorado Association of School Executives and representatives from the state's higher-ed institutions.
The purpose was to develop a list of points of agreement so the groups can be seen as speaking more in unison, rather than separately, in whatever Ref C debate breaks out.
Elimination of the business personal-property tax remains on the wish list of many in industry.
Most of Colorado's taxes, from income to residential property tax, compare favorably with other states'.
But Colorado's law levying business property tax not only on land and buildings, but also on production equipment, has made the state an expensive place to be a manufacturer.
The tax "is a job-killing issue for a lot of businesses,"...
(Excerpt) Read more at rockymountainnews.com ...
Empty your wallet to Owens. Things are about to really get expensive.
Pretty soon even Ref C won't be enough. They'll want to raise the overall tax rate. Give an inch...
Said that while the mone was to go for education, he was going to replenish the transporation fund and other funds that were short of funding. Education would have to wait.
Anyone surprised?
Scarcely a month after Ref C passed, CU gave its fired football coach, Gary Barnett, a $3,000,000 golden parachute.
There was a time when I was proud of being a CU alumnus. Not anymore.
IIRC, the golden parachute came from athletic ticket receipts (there is some sort of rule where athletic funds and academic funds can't be co-mingled). It didn't come from tuition dollars. But makes no difference to me - its still sickening. I'm currently in grad school at CU ... my tuition has more than doubled since I started in 2003. Thank GOD this semester is my last. I can't stomach one more "sorry, but we need to raise your tuition 40% in order to keep delivering the 'high-quality' education you are receiving." Yet, my classes get worse and worse on the quality scale, and CU has to keep paying lawyers for various legal battles.
I still think it would've passed. Most everyone I've spoken with wanted Ref C passed "for the children." They constantly cited how public education is failing students, yadda yadda yadda. No real statistics, just feelings.
And of course, now they are all pissing and moaning about how TABOR is ruined. No duh.
"......Thank GOD this semester is my last. I can't stomach one more "sorry, but we need to raise your tuition 40% in order to keep delivering the 'high-quality' education you are receiving." Yet, my classes get worse and worse on the quality scale, and CU has to keep paying lawyers for various legal battles."
I figure that I'll start looking for the Horsemen right after I recover from my allergy to the color red.
There are many CU alumns who are refusing to donate any more money to CU as long as Ward Churchill is getting his $100,000 per year plus full benefits.
Ward wanted the year off from teaching even 5 hours per week of classes. Tired from the 5 hours per week worked.
Plus the $3,000,000 package for Barnett and all the other problems.
Is CU still giving illegals from other countries the in-state tuition rate ?
Owen is a loser.
His political career is over.
Not sure. I didn't think they were in the first place, but I admit - I don't pay attention to that stuff because it pisses me off to no end.
You don't want to know what I think of the "College Opportunity Fund."
A few years ago ( ? ) there was a big media fight over some illegal alien complaining that he was being denied his full benefits of discounted CU tuition...
His whole family was illegal.
They were worried that they might also be deported, lose their health benifits, their tax payer assisted housing...
Ahhhh, I remember that. His argument was that CU should give him in-state rates and they weren't going to allow it (I'm not sure if his argument was with just CU - I think it was with all state colleges. In fact, I believe he wanted in-state tuition at Metro State College, not CU). He figured that since he was raised here and graduated from an already taxpayer-funded K-12 education, the taxpayer should keep on paying. I might have to do some searching on this one. I remember Mike Rosen being all over this. Maybe I will email him. I'd love to know what happened to that family.
In any case, I don't think any state university/college allows illegals to get in-state rates, but don't quote me on that. Also, I'm not sure how the College Opportunity Fund works for illegals, either, or if they qualify. That could add another dynamic to the issue.
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