Tax ‘freeze’ a tax hike
Our governor is bypassing the TABOR Amendment by calling this tax increase a freeze (“School funding plan approved/Ritter gets way on tax rate freeze; GOP sees backlash,” May 2). This is fiscal deception and all property owners should be calling for our representatives to take action to challenge this increase in our property taxes.
Whatever they call it, it is an increase, not a freeze. If properties values decrease and we are unable to realize the decrease in value — it is an increase, governor; that’s simple math. We will be taxed twice over when property taxes are assessed again and again. This is wrong and irresponsible.
T.J. Weddell, Lakewood
there isnt a liberal left democrat that doesnt love tax increases. they want your money plain and simple. they all screamed about the rate reduction Bush put in, and they benefit from it and not complain about their reduced amount, as it was only for the rich. that is all BS as it was across the board every tax rate was reduced. I love the rate reduction as it saved me 1000's in taxes and yet I still paid way too much. I have my own family to support and I dont need to support any more.
Posted by on May 10, 2007 07:14 AMBut wait........IT'S FOR THE CHILDREN! And this jerk-off Ritter had the kids in front of him when he signed the bill yesterday.
How come there is a problem with school funding? I think there is something called Amendment 23 that was supposed to fix this. And every year school districts ask for more money from home owners through bond issues. Didn't Ref. C also put more $$ into schools?
Homeowners are ALWAYS the ones politicians turn to when they need more money. Why not increase the income tax rate so EVERYONE helps fund schools? And my Mormon neighbor that has 5 kids pays the same tax I do for schools, even though I do not have kids.
But wait, IT'S FOR THE CHILDREN!
Like previous letter writers have said recently, "Dems are in power so hang on to your wallets!".
Posted by Dan on May 10, 2007 07:45 AMThe freeze on taxes will provide more money for schools. But the question is how much more money to the schools need? As spending has increased the last several years, quality of education has declined and the number of people unable to afford their taxes has increased.
HB 00-1464, passed in 2000, was necessary to require high school graduates needing remedial work, to compete that in community colleges. Basic reading, writing and math that K-12 schools were not properly educated them. In 2004, 30% required high school remedial work.
As a result, the community colleges created rea 090 College Preparatory reading and Eng 090 Basic composition for college and vocational graduates alike. If K-12 schools are doing such a good job, and could do better with more money, why the continued need for remedial work?
Spending more on schools will not address the problem, which is teacher preparation and course materials.
Posted by Richard Becker on May 10, 2007 08:32 AMOh, c'mon. You HAD to know Ritter would go for a tax increase of some sort as soon as misguided voters put him in office. And he'll soon be looking for yet another way to grab our money. That's what democrats do!
Posted by jj on May 10, 2007 12:59 PM