2013 Ballot Proposal- Increase State Income Taxes

[Ronin13]

"Raising taxes can lead us to prosperity"- No one, ever!
State Senator Mike Johnson (D) seems to think otherwise, and more of that shady liberal tactic that "it's for the children!" The proposal to go to the CO voters this year would raise the state income tax from 4.6% to 5.3% for income under $75,000, and income over that number would garner 5.9% state income tax (source). But why? To fund education. Of course they use these asinine figures like "It'll raise $950 million for public schools," that they really can't prove, because once the increase goes into effect, how will they know how many tax payers will still be willing to be here after the rent goes up? They don't, but they use these numbers to try and drum up support. It's ridiculous. Of course, states like WA, WY, TX, TN and others (9 total) don't have a state income tax, and they're doing just fine. In fact, TX alone has made up a large portion of the national job growth recently.

Of course it's not about spending the money more wisely, it's about getting more money to continue to spend like an idiot with a no-limit credit card! Why do schools need an additional $950M? I went to school over 10 years ago and everything seemed fine with the money being spent. So vote NO! on Initiative 22 this November... it's most certainly not going to help the children if it hurts everyone else. Raising taxes has never bolstered or improved economic growth... that's a fact.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingne...-increase-fund

[Bailey Guns]

This is my shocked face.

[Zundfolge]

The "Californication" of the once great state of Colorado continues.

[RblDiver]

What, didn't you know that more money = better schools? They told us it's so, so it must be so!

[BigDee]

I would support a 1% increase to income taxes if it were to be used for highway infrastructure spending. The highways here are terrible compared to most of the country and they need to do something about it.

As far as education goes I am already giving this state over $5K a year in property tax that's supposed to fund education. If my $5K is not enough for them they can F themselves.

This state is now controlled by the Dems so despite how I feel you should expect to see taxes continue to rise here. Income tax is now 11% in California, every tax that gets put on the ballot is almost always overwhelmingly improved in California. During our last election here every single tax that was out on the ballot was approved and I knew that was the Dems ways of testing the waters. They tested the waters and they know they will likely see any additional taxes approved by voters especially when they say its for the children.

I hope the Dems realize that they are going to kill the economy in this state. Colorado was a very attractive state for businesses leaving California. Low taxes, mild weather and lots of recreational activities made Colorado very appealing. Democrats are now in control and raising taxes, businesses watch these things very closely before relocating and will now choose somewhere else to relocate.

[kidicarus13]

I predict the legalization of prostitution and other illegal drugs to help meet the state's expected future expenditures. Watch for it.

[newracer]

I thought the legalization of MJ was going to give the schools all the money they needed?

[Ronin13]

I would support a 1% increase to income taxes if it were to be used for highway infrastructure spending. The highways here are terrible compared to most of the country and they need to do something about it.

As far as education goes I am already giving this state over $5K a year in property tax that's supposed to fund education. If my $5K is not enough for them they can F themselves.

This state is now controlled by the Dems so despite how I feel you should expect to see taxes continue to rise here. Income tax is now 11% in California, every tax that gets put on the ballot is almost always overwhelmingly improved in California. During our last election here every single tax that was out on the ballot was approved and I knew that was the Dems ways of testing the waters. They tested the waters and they know they will likely see any additional taxes approved by voters especially when they say its for the children.

I hope the Dems realize that they are going to kill the economy in this state. Colorado was a very attractive state for businesses leaving California. Low taxes, mild weather and lots of recreational activities made Colorado very appealing. Democrats are now in control and raising taxes, businesses watch these things very closely before relocating and will now choose somewhere else to relocate.

Exactly... except what does my R&B "tax" on my vehicle registration (and everyone else's) do? Yes, you hit the nail on the head with the property tax, the problem is, they don't spend the money wisely, and thus they need to keep asking for more. I agree on the roads- for instance- CDOT finally, after 4 years, got around to repaving a section of CO-74 this week... it's been needed for at least the last 4 years. That's just ONE 1/4 mile section or so of road among how many hundreds of thousands of miles of failing roads in this state. The problem is, I wouldn't trust an average democrat with any amount of money, even if it was to rub to pennies together- they'd most certainly either give them away, throw them away, or mysteriously "lose" them.

[RblDiver]

Exactly... except what does my R&B "tax" on my vehicle registration (and everyone else's) do? Yes, you hit the nail on the head with the property tax, the problem is, they don't spend the money wisely, and thus they need to keep asking for more. I agree on the roads- for instance- CDOT finally, after 4 years, got around to repaving a section of CO-74 this week... it's been needed for at least the last 4 years. That's just ONE 1/4 mile section or so of road among how many hundreds of thousands of miles of failing roads in this state. The problem is, I wouldn't trust an average democrat with any amount of money, even if it was to rub to pennies together- they'd most certainly either give them away, throw them away, or mysteriously "lose" them.

I think the head of CDOT is a political appointee.

My dad works for them as a project engineer up here in northern CO. Sadly, some of the higher-ups don't make good decisions. Over my dad's objections, a contractor convinced his boss to use a lime-treated subgrade instead of (whatever the standard "good" stuff is) in order to save themselves a few bucks...and of course it doesn't hold up as well so the road's getting bumpy ahead of its time.

Still at least there are some good people at CDOT (like my dad) who care about getting the job done right. If only we had more like them! (Well, except that I think while he tends fiscally conservative, he's more socially liberal, so get more with his work ethic but not his social ideas lol)

[Ronin13]

I think the head of CDOT is a political appointee.

My dad works for them as a project engineer up here in northern CO. Sadly, some of the higher-ups don't make good decisions. Over my dad's objections, a contractor convinced his boss to use a lime-treated subgrade instead of (whatever the standard "good" stuff is) in order to save themselves a few bucks...and of course it doesn't hold up as well so the road's getting bumpy ahead of its time.

Still at least there are some good people at CDOT (like my dad) who care about getting the job done right. If only we had more like them! (Well, except that I think while he tends fiscally conservative, he's more socially liberal, so get more with his work ethic but not his social ideas lol)

I worked with Jeffco and CDOT paving crews when I was in high school and working for the local metro district- good guys for the most part, but chalk their shortcomings to usually bad leadership, and I'm not talking the direct project managers and supervisors, no, the desk jockeys that are higher up and so far removed from the working guys.