TABOR may force CO to refund excess pot tax

[Dave_L]

http://kdvr.com/2014/03/12/tabor-may-force-colorado-to-refund-excess-marijuana-money-to-taxpayers/

“I think probably what’s going to happen is that, internally, the state will try and take care of it,”

Uh huh. I bet. That could be a nice little refund coming back to everyone. $40 million excess? Too bad I highly doubt they give it back. They'll find some place to waste/spend/hide it.

[Blowby]

They don't have to worry because the payers of this tax already forgot they paid it.

[Rucker61]

Alaska residents get oil money, we'll get weed money.

[Colorado_Outback]

Uh huh. I bet. That could be a nice little refund coming back to everyone. $40 million excess? Too bad I highly doubt they give it back. They'll find some place to waste/spend/hide it.


Did you pay into that tax fund?

[Dave_L]

Did you pay into that tax fund?

Nope. But I'll gladly take some cash.

[GunsRBadMMMMKay]

Most people who get "refunds" don't pay into the tax pool in an size-able amount....but I doubt our greedy overlords will share the wealth on this one LOL. Maybe they can take some of that money and fix the damn roads. (I don't think chickencoopers plan to fund drug education is a good idea.....have them make sure all the kids are educated on it's use and know where to get it).

[Ronin13]

Alaska residents get oil money, we'll get weed money.
That would be very nice!

Did you pay into that tax fund?
No... however, we deserve a little something for putting up with those that did... [Coffee]

[Colorado_Outback]

I would love to hear why you guys are entitled to a refund from a tax fund that you didint pay into.

Should be almost as funny as the last pot thread, where someone tried to convince me that their neighbor smoking a joint in his back yard was going to cause him to fail a drug test :)

[Dave_L]

It's not a refund. It's a dividend from living in the state and the state having a good year.

[Colorado_Outback]

It's not a refund. It's a dividend from living in the state and the state having a good year.

You should call Fox 31 and let them know that they used the wrong terminology in the article you linked!

[hatidua]

I would love to hear why you guys are entitled to a refund from a tax fund that you didint pay into.

It's all a matter of perspective:

I'm not getting it: they don't deserve it!
I'm getting it: I deserve it!

[centrarchidae]

Hey, if people who don't pay income tax can get refundable tax credits, then people who don't fuma la chiva should be able to get weed tax refunds.

After all, we are all FSA now.

Or, in the immortal words of the First Choomer: "You didn't smoke that!"

[Delfuego]

Alaska residents get oil money, we'll get weed money.Ding Ding Ding Ding! Winner!!!!

[roberth]

I would like that. Every taxpayer should get a cut of any surplus taxes provided the costs (determining the recipient pool, postage/eft costs, etc.) of refunding the money don't exceed a percentage of the surplus; I'm not sure what that percentage should be.

We got money back before Ref C came along in 2005.

[Eric P]

Didn't Colorado voters vote a few years back to allow the state to keep revenue in excess of the TABOR limits for the next 10 years?

[Big E3]

I would love to hear why you guys are entitled to a refund from a tax fund that you didint pay into.

Should be almost as funny as the last pot thread, where someone tried to convince me that their neighbor smoking a joint in his back yard was going to cause him to fail a drug test :)

Since when does the government only give money to the people that gave it to them? I believe it is the Government's new job to take from those with too much, pot smokers, and give to those with not enough, everybody else.

[USMC_5-Echo]

Instead of giving "excess" tax money back I think they should continue to pump it into places that could use assistance, ie schools. Having family that still lives in WA I heard that the biggest reason voters approved was because the tax money was going to be put into the school systems and I think that's way better. Prep for the future ya know? But then again I have been told that I'm crazy

[Ronin13]

Instead of giving "excess" tax money back I think they should continue to pump it into places that could use assistance, ie schools. Having family that still lives in WA I heard that the biggest reason voters approved was because the tax money was going to be put into the school systems and I think that's way better. Prep for the future ya know? But then again I have been told that I'm crazy
Only problem with that- schools don't spend the money they already get very well... a sudden influx of money won't guarantee better results. We tried that, it didn't work. Personally, they should put the money where it will actually do some good, I dunno, maybe such as fixing these roads around this state... Driving around Denver (especially on Quebec as of late), the roads are in a very sad state of disrepair.

[RCCrawler]

I think it should be used to give all children of this state that meet minimum GPA's or sat scores free associates degrees. Basically extend our education system from 12 years to 14.

[colorider]

How about use the money to fund the fucking Boulder Turnpike/36 disaster of a road project .

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

How about use the money to fund the fucking‹ moat that should be built around Boulder .

Fify [pileoshit]

[Justin]

I'd happily give up any tax refund if it meant they'd fix the damnable pot holes.

[GilpinGuy]

How about taking the excess taxes and refunding some of our "fees" for auto registration?

The "fees" (aka taxes) were pushed because we "needed" more money for roads, blah, blah, blah. So excess taxes mean...no more need.

[Ronin13]

How about taking the excess taxes and refunding some of our "fees" for auto registration?

The "fees" (aka taxes) were pushed because we "needed" more money for roads, blah, blah, blah. So excess taxes mean...no more need.
I don't really see any of that money at work either. And the roads not just in the city, but up here in "affluent" Evergreen are falling apart. I agree, ditch the fees and use the excess pot tax money to do something we can actually see the results of.

[Colorado_Outback]

Some valid points/ideas in here, espcially hghclsswhitetrsh.

[Jamnanc]

This text was always general fund money, The idea that it was going to schools was ludicrous. Good if Tabor requires that it goes back to a refund. I can keep up with my federal taxes, but i end up paying Colorado State every God dang year.

[speedysst]

I don't really see any of that money at work either. And the roads not just in the city, but up here in "affluent" Evergreen are falling apart. I agree, ditch the fees and use the excess pot tax money to do something we can actually see the results of.

Oh, well Hwy 13 between Rifle and Meeker has about 2-3 miles of new road! Of course it took them 4 years to finish but at least its new.

[CO Hugh]

Fools the government will spend every cent you give them. It's always for the children. They are like plantation owners complaining the slaves don't work hard enough so the owner suffers.

[TFOGGER]

The talking heads on the "news" last night were speculating that the state should somehow refund this money to the people that paid it. My question is: How the fuck are they going to do that? RMJ sales are in cash only at this point, and there is no requirement to record customer's names or ID numbers, only that they check ID for residency prior to selling an amount greater than 1/8 ounce.

[Dave_L]

The talking heads on the "news" last night were speculating that the state should somehow refund this money to the people that paid it. My question is: How the fuck are they going to do that? RMJ sales are in cash only at this point, and there is no requirement to record customer's names or ID numbers, only that they check ID for residency prior to selling an amount greater than 1/8 ounce.

Simple.

"Come sign up and testify that you did purchase marijuana during this time frame and we'll refund you X amount."

Now they have a list of people (non HIPAA protected) to compare against firearm owners and can start round one of dis-arming.

Tinfoily-Sure. But we already know how much money it takes to get people to give up blood/saliva samples from that Texas "voluntary" roadside a few months back.

[Ronin13]

Simple.

"Come sign up and testify that you did purchase marijuana during this time frame and we'll refund you X amount."

Now they have a list of people (non HIPAA protected) to compare against firearm owners and can start round one of dis-arming.

Tinfoily-Sure. But we already know how much money it takes to get people to give up blood/saliva samples from that Texas "voluntary" roadside a few months back.
And I wonder how many pot heads will say "Guns or weed, choose one? Okay, weed." ??? And they say marijuana isn't addictive... try to get a serious pot head to go two months without smoking it. [Luck]

[Irving]

So have they reduced the tax rate yet or are people still paying too much?

[newracer]

So have they reduced the tax rate yet or are people still paying too much?

[ROFL1]

[XC700116]

I would love to hear why you guys are entitled to a refund from a tax fund that you didint pay into.

Should be almost as funny as the last pot thread, where someone tried to convince me that their neighbor smoking a joint in his back yard was going to cause him to fail a drug test :)



While not directly, I absolutely have. You see, all the reports of people using EBT debit cards in ATM's at pot shops proves that yes I and every other person paying taxes here has. Not to mention all the other "programs" that people are on that we pay for (home heating assistance, housing assistance, etc the list goes on and on) that free up "their money" to allow them to buy pot that we all essentially pay for.

End result IMO, they shouldn't issue a "refund" they should use that money to fund things that they've continually fucked the rest of the tax base over on. Vehicle registration "fees" and taxes, state income taxes, etc.

[CO Hugh]

We used to get refunds a long time ago, as I recall about $100 a head, then everyone cried they needed more money. Also no one seemed concerned ages ago about figuring out how to refund the tax to those who paid it, ie the rich.

[rockhound]

I would love to hear why you guys are entitled to a refund from a tax fund that you didint pay into.

Should be almost as funny as the last pot thread, where someone tried to convince me that their neighbor smoking a joint in his back yard was going to cause him to fail a drug test :)

because the state sales tax fund is not broken into smaller bits where only one person gets the share, this is a socialist plan where everyone is to benefit from the states windfall, there are plenty of things that the average pot head does not purchase that other people do purchase that they would also benefit from. not to mention the fact that the pot purchases are taking revenue from other areas that would normally share revenue. the 100 bucks they just spent on pot may have other wise been purchased to buy x so the tax revenue would have other wise been shared.

because i chooose to buy other things that are more beneficial to me other than weed and thus my tax dollars are shared does not mean that your purchase of a useless item (other than medicinal weed of course) does not mean that you should not share your tax dollars.

[GilpinGuy]

Because the state sales tax fund is not broken into smaller bits where only one person gets the share, this is a socialist plan where everyone is to benefit from the states windfall. There are plenty of things that the average pot head does not purchase that other people do purchase that they would also benefit from. Not to mention the fact that the pot purchases are taking revenue from other areas that would normally share revenue. The 100 bucks they just spent on pot may have otherwise been purchased to buy x so the tax revenue would have otherwise been shared.

Because I choose to buy other things that are more beneficial to me other than weed, and thus my tax dollars are shared, does not mean that your purchase of a useless item (other than medicinal weed of course) does not mean that you should not share your tax dollars.

Fixed the grammar mistakes to make it more readable because it was right on. [rockon]

[rockhound]

thanks, posting before coffee :)

[Irving]

Someone here suggested using the money for a private fleet of fire fighting planes. Thought that wasn't a bad idea.

[RMAC757]

Someone here suggested using the money for a private fleet of fire fighting planes. Thought that wasn't a bad idea.

Planes are like guns. Most of the cost isn't upfront. There's no way we could afford it, 40 mil isn't enough over a period of time.

[jerrymrc]

Planes are like guns. Most of the cost isn't upfront. There's no way we could afford it, 40 mil isn't enough over a period of time.

They will just hire you. Rumor has it your easy AND cheap. [LOL]


We used to get refunds a long time ago, as I recall about $100 a head I think I remember more than that.

Now that a little more is coming it seems like everyone is trying to spend it along with the measures they are trying to undo TABOR. Hate the man all you want but without TABOR those dirtbags would have us paying double what we are now. I just hope it holds up in court.

[Irving]

Planes are like guns. Most of the cost isn't upfront. There's no way we could afford it, 40 mil isn't enough over a period of time.

To say that I'm skeptical that they will cut the tax rate so that there is not an overage every year would be a great understatement. Would $40 mil a year cut it?

[Dave_L]

Well ok then...

http://kdvr.com/2014/03/18/gerou-tabor-having-insidious-effect-on-colorado/

[Eric P]

What the fuck did that RINO say? TABOR is the best thing this state has going for it. Without it think how high your taxes would be pay for all the unnecessary liberal handouts.

[XC700116]

While Tabor isn't perfect, and possibly could use some modifications, It's the only thing that's keeping us from being in the same fiscal shape as CA is.