CLAIM: This tax increase will help our economy.
FACT: This tax increase will hit small businesses and may prevent some from hiring.
Our so called recovery is still fragile and Colorado’s unemployment numbers remain high. Families need greater prosperity in order to best care for their loved ones. As it is, Coloradans’ median household income as of 2011 (the latest figures available) is down nearly 7 percent since the recession began in 2008. Families cannot afford a tax hike whether it is 8 percent or 27 percent, especially when families’ earnings in Colorado have declined.
In fact, the Denver Business Journal recently wrote, “the passage of Amendment 66, a statewide school tax measure on the November ballot, would be a drag on Colorado's economy, according to a new study analyzing the ripple effects of public policy choices across the economy.”
FACT: This tax increase will hit small businesses and may prevent some from hiring.
Our so called recovery is still fragile and Colorado’s unemployment numbers remain high. Families need greater prosperity in order to best care for their loved ones. As it is, Coloradans’ median household income as of 2011 (the latest figures available) is down nearly 7 percent since the recession began in 2008. Families cannot afford a tax hike whether it is 8 percent or 27 percent, especially when families’ earnings in Colorado have declined.
In fact, the Denver Business Journal recently wrote, “the passage of Amendment 66, a statewide school tax measure on the November ballot, would be a drag on Colorado's economy, according to a new study analyzing the ripple effects of public policy choices across the economy.”
CLAIM: Amendment 66 will keep Colorado business-friendly
FACT: This initiative disproportionately harms Colorado’s small business, the backbone of our economy.
Colorado fell from 16th in 2012 to 18th in 2013 on the Thax Foundation’s Business Tax Climate Index. Colorado fell from 25th to 37th on CNBC’s Cost of Doing Business Index. Colorado has become a less attractive place to do business in recent years and we shouldn’t make it worse by raising taxes by a billion dollars per year. This initiative is unfair because it fails to enact real reforms and burdens families and small businesses with additional taxes.
FACT: This initiative disproportionately harms Colorado’s small business, the backbone of our economy.
Colorado fell from 16th in 2012 to 18th in 2013 on the Thax Foundation’s Business Tax Climate Index. Colorado fell from 25th to 37th on CNBC’s Cost of Doing Business Index. Colorado has become a less attractive place to do business in recent years and we shouldn’t make it worse by raising taxes by a billion dollars per year. This initiative is unfair because it fails to enact real reforms and burdens families and small businesses with additional taxes.
CLAIM: Even with this tax increase, Colorado’s state taxes will be among the lowest in the country.
FACT: Colorado will rank worse if Amendment 66 is passed in combined state and local taxes.
The Legislative Council was measuring taxes collected per $1,000 in income when they came up with the proponents of Amendment 66’s numbers. In 2011, the Legislative Council calculated Coloradans’ total tax burden based on a per capita basis which put Colorado’s at the ranking of 25th. The Independence Institute, last year, placed Colorado at 26th. The Tax Foundation ranked Colorado 32nd in state and local tax burdens as a percentage of state income last October.
Vince Carroll of the Denver Post reported these numbers along with the fact that Colorado’s tax burden is 9.1 percent higher than a number of other states in the Rocky Mountain region. Even the National Education Association put in a December 2012 report that Colorado is 32nd when taxes are related to income. Proponents of the measure are grossly misrepresenting the reality of tax burdens on Coloradans. The fact that we are not the worst, does not warrant levying the largest tax increase on Colorado’s families in the state’s history. On top of the massive tax increase, it’s a fact that this amendment offers no guarantees that this funding will reach classrooms.
FACT: Colorado will rank worse if Amendment 66 is passed in combined state and local taxes.
The Legislative Council was measuring taxes collected per $1,000 in income when they came up with the proponents of Amendment 66’s numbers. In 2011, the Legislative Council calculated Coloradans’ total tax burden based on a per capita basis which put Colorado’s at the ranking of 25th. The Independence Institute, last year, placed Colorado at 26th. The Tax Foundation ranked Colorado 32nd in state and local tax burdens as a percentage of state income last October.
Vince Carroll of the Denver Post reported these numbers along with the fact that Colorado’s tax burden is 9.1 percent higher than a number of other states in the Rocky Mountain region. Even the National Education Association put in a December 2012 report that Colorado is 32nd when taxes are related to income. Proponents of the measure are grossly misrepresenting the reality of tax burdens on Coloradans. The fact that we are not the worst, does not warrant levying the largest tax increase on Colorado’s families in the state’s history. On top of the massive tax increase, it’s a fact that this amendment offers no guarantees that this funding will reach classrooms.
CLAIM: Graduates with real-world technology experience are positioned to get better jobs in today’s market.
FACTS: Instituting a permanent, billion-dollar per year tax increase will make Colorado a less attractive place to live, work, and invest. NFIB, the voice of small business, overwhelmingly voted (96%) to not support this measure. Ninety-two percent of all businesses in Colorado file and are taxed as individuals and would be impacted by the tax increase. Small businesses will have fewer dollars with which to create jobs.
Additionally, Colorado’s reputation as a low-tax, business-friendly state has declined. Colorado fell from 16th in 2012 to 18th in 2013 on The Tax Foundation’s Business Tax Climate Index. Colorado fell from 25th in 2008 to 37th in 2013 on CNBC’s Cost of Doing Business Index.
While we agree that our children should be prepared for the future, there are no guarantees that these funds would benefit children or give them the skills they need for life.
FACTS: Instituting a permanent, billion-dollar per year tax increase will make Colorado a less attractive place to live, work, and invest. NFIB, the voice of small business, overwhelmingly voted (96%) to not support this measure. Ninety-two percent of all businesses in Colorado file and are taxed as individuals and would be impacted by the tax increase. Small businesses will have fewer dollars with which to create jobs.
Additionally, Colorado’s reputation as a low-tax, business-friendly state has declined. Colorado fell from 16th in 2012 to 18th in 2013 on The Tax Foundation’s Business Tax Climate Index. Colorado fell from 25th in 2008 to 37th in 2013 on CNBC’s Cost of Doing Business Index.
While we agree that our children should be prepared for the future, there are no guarantees that these funds would benefit children or give them the skills they need for life.
CLAIM: Improving high school graduation rates leads to lower unemployment, reduced social service needs and higher property values.
FACT: This amendment fails to include any of the real reforms necessary to deliver a high-quality education for our children.
Forty percent of the state’s high school graduates need remedial classes once they enter college. This is unacceptable. Colorado’s public schools are not adequately preparing our children for college or for success in life. Our children deserve better. If the amendment’s proponents were truly committed to a world-class education system, they wouldn’t offer the largest income tax in the state’s history without genuine reform measures.
FACT: This amendment fails to include any of the real reforms necessary to deliver a high-quality education for our children.
Forty percent of the state’s high school graduates need remedial classes once they enter college. This is unacceptable. Colorado’s public schools are not adequately preparing our children for college or for success in life. Our children deserve better. If the amendment’s proponents were truly committed to a world-class education system, they wouldn’t offer the largest income tax in the state’s history without genuine reform measures.
CLAIM: Students will graduate from high school ready for college or for the workforce.
FACT: There are no guarantees that these funds will reach classrooms, nor are there any genuine reform measures in this amendment.
NFIB, the voice of small business, overwhelmingly voted (96%) to not support this measure. Ninety-two percent of all businesses in Colorado file and are taxed as individuals and would be impacted by the tax increase. Small businesses will have fewer dollars with which to create jobs.
Additionally, Colorado’s reputation as a low-tax, business-friendly state has declined. Colorado fell from 16th in 2012 to 18th in 2013 on The Tax Foundation’s Business Tax Climate Index. Colorado fell from 25th in 2008 to 37th in 2013 on CNBC’s Cost of Doing Business Index.
While we agree that our children should be prepared for the future, there are no guarantees that these funds would benefit children or give them the skills they need for life.
FACT: There are no guarantees that these funds will reach classrooms, nor are there any genuine reform measures in this amendment.
NFIB, the voice of small business, overwhelmingly voted (96%) to not support this measure. Ninety-two percent of all businesses in Colorado file and are taxed as individuals and would be impacted by the tax increase. Small businesses will have fewer dollars with which to create jobs.
Additionally, Colorado’s reputation as a low-tax, business-friendly state has declined. Colorado fell from 16th in 2012 to 18th in 2013 on The Tax Foundation’s Business Tax Climate Index. Colorado fell from 25th in 2008 to 37th in 2013 on CNBC’s Cost of Doing Business Index.
While we agree that our children should be prepared for the future, there are no guarantees that these funds would benefit children or give them the skills they need for life.