Colorado

Colorado Democrats want to use TABOR refund money to fight child poverty, help care workers with new credits

Published

2 years ago

February 17, 2024

Colorado Democrats want to use TABOR refund money to fight child poverty, help care workers with new credits

Colorado Democrats are eying a large portion of the state’s $1.8 billion-plus surplus this year to provide child tax credits targeted to help lower-income families — along with another slice devoted to helping people working in health- and child-care fields.

The proposals are costly policy moves that could put state lawmakers on a path for conflict with Gov. Jared Polis, a fellow Democrat, over what to do with the surplus and broader tax policy. The legislators, including a top member of the House, argue the money — which normally would be refunded to taxpayers — gives Colorado an opportunity to help the people most in need.

The child tax credits bill, introduced Friday afternoon, would direct up to $3,200 per child younger than 6 to the lowest-income families in the state. That credit would taper down as qualifying families’ incomes increase, up to a limit of $85,000 for single filers and $95,000 for joint filers. Those families would receive a $120 credit.

Another credit would apply for families with children ages 6 to 16 — starting at $2,400 and tapering down to $90 for single and joint filers at the same income limits.

Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, a Lakewood Democrat, said the proposal could cut the state’s child poverty rates in half. Some 133,000 Colorado children currently live in poverty, according to the Colorado Children’s Campaign.

“When you pump this money into those families at that level, it can be a game changer for their lives,” deGruy Kennedy said.

He said the child tax credits would cost roughly $800 million per year, though an official estimate was still pending.

The proposal was modeled largely after the pandemic-era federal child tax credit expansion championed by U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, he said. The federal program gave families direct cash assistance in 2021 and was credited with slashing the national childhood poverty rate, but Congress allowed the expansion to lapse after a year.

Bennet has tried to resurrect it, and a bipartisan tax bill recently passed by the U.S. House contained a new expansion of the credit; that bill is now pending in the Senate.

DeGruy Kennedy’s state proposal is still in its beginning stages, and he expects it to change as the bill moves through the legislative process — and as it’s negotiated with the governor’s office. That includes determining if a direct monthly payment, or an annual refund like what the state sends now, would be more practical.

He identified the bill’s co-sponsors as Rep. Jenny Willford of Northglenn and Sens. Faith Winter of Westminster and James Coleman of Denver. All are Democrats.

The proposed child tax credits would be permanent but would depend on the availability of surplus tax revenue above the limit set by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR.

Democrats have drawn on surplus money for other relief

The measure joins a suite of other pitches by the majority Democrats to direct tax dollars collected over the TABOR cap toward lower-income Coloradans, including a further expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit and a bill to provide additional tax relief to people 65 and older.

But as a consequence, the approach would chew into the tax refunds Coloradans have come to expect in recent years.

It also pits legislative Democrats against Polis, who wants an income tax cut to be part of any broader tax reform package. That desire — reiterated in Polis’ January State of the State address — is a nonstarter for some Democratic lawmakers, who argue that such a reduction would mostly benefit the state’s wealthiest earners.

Earlier this week, a committee controlled by Democrats killed a Republican-backed income tax cut proposal.

In a statement Friday, Polis spokeswoman Shelby Wieman said the governor “looks forward to a conversation on the child tax credit and other important tax policies — including his priority of a temporary rate cut to the income tax — during this legislative session to provide relief to all Coloradans and to help our economy grow.”

DeGruy Kennedy said he’s working with the governor’s office on a compromise that would include cuts to the state’s income and sales tax rates in conjunction with the expanded tax credits for families.

He said this effort was “very much about planting the flag” to establish the view that the state can use TABOR surplus money to tackle societal issues. He expects a fight over tapping into the surplus, especially since it has become a political tripwire following the failure of Proposition HH, which voters soundly defeated in November.

Proposition HH would have raised the TABOR revenue cap to pay for education and cut property taxes. Republicans in particular have taken HH’s defeat to mean voters don’t want lawmakers to touch TABOR surpluses — or their refunds.

DeGruy Kennedy, though, framed a rhetorical question for Colorado voters: “Are you willing to give up a little bit of that (TABOR surplus) if this could be a transformational policy change for families in Colorado who are really living on the edge?”

Credit for health, early childhood workers

Also included in the tax credit package was a second bill introduced by House Democrats on Friday, which would direct a $1,500 annual tax credit to certain care workers, including those working in home health, early childhood and personal health.

The credit would be targeted to lower-income workers, which includes most of the people in those fields, said Rep. Lorena Garcia, an Adams County Democrat sponsoring the bill.

Like the child tax credit, the care workers credit would be permanent but dependent upon a TABOR surplus. It would cost more than $100 million per year, Garcia said, and would benefit as many as 70,000 lower-income workers.

“We’re able to help folks for whom $1,500 really is the difference between getting evicted or getting your car repossessed,” said Garcia, who’s backing the bill with Rep. Emily Sirota, a Denver Democrat. “Whereas (for) other folks in higher-income brackets, $1,500 is something nice to add to your savings account.”

Her bill is part of the negotiations with the governor’s office, Garcia said. But including an across-the-board cut to the state’s income tax rate as part of that deal would be a “nonstarter,” she said.

“Having a flat rate income tax (cut) — while everyone benefits, it disproportionately benefits the rich,” she said, adding that lawmakers “would be happy” to discuss referring a ballot measure to voters that would cut the income tax rate for lower- and middle-income earners.

After she introduced two of the tax credit bills Friday, House Speaker Julie McCluskie said Democratic legislators had worked to “make sure that we are supporting the hard-working families of our state.”

“These are seasoned lawmakers who have brought forward some pretty big ideas,” she said, “and I look forward to the ongoing conversations.”

McCluskie demurred when asked about disagreements between Polis and Democratic legislators over an income tax cut, though she said that she hoped Polis “is thoughtful about just pushing one idea.”

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Colorado

Live: Day 1 of Colorado high school state track and field meet

Published

4 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

Live: Day 1 of Colorado high school state track and field meet

LAKEWOOD — One of the most anticipated events in Colorado high school sports is back on the track.

The annual Colorado high school track and field state championship meet returns May 14-16 for the 2026 edition.

It kicks off May 14 as the Centennial State’s top leapers, runners, jumpers, sprinters, vaulters and throwers take over Lakewood’s JeffCo Stadium.

More than 100 Fort Collins-area athletes across four different classifications have qualified for the state meet.

Follow here for day one live state track & field updates from local athletes, plus some notable scores and results for Northern Colorado and statewide competitors.

This has the potential to be a massive state meet for the Fort Collins area.

Our top local sprinters and relay teams account for more than 40 top-two seeds in their events, while there are field contenders galore and several distance runners in the mix.

— Chris Abshire

It’s a busy year for Fort Collins-area athletes down at state track, with over 100 athletes qualifying from nine local schools.

Fort Collins High School leads the way with eighteen individual qualifiers and seven relay sqauds, but there’s plenty of representation across schools and events.

— Chris Abshire

Here are all the May 14 running finals at the 2026 Colorado state track & field championships:

8:20-8:35 a.m.: 5A boys/girls 3,200 meters
10:00-10:50 a.m.: 4A and 5A boys/girls 4×800 relays
11:00-11:30 a.m.: 4A/5A Special Olympics/Paralympics 100 dashes
Noon: 4A/5A Special Olympics/Paralympic 200 dashes
2:20-2:45 p.m.: Special Olympics/Paralympic 3A/2A/1A 100 and 200 dashes
4:00-5:00 p.m.: 3A and 2A boys/girls 4×800 relays
5:00-5:35 p.m.: 1A boys/girls 3,200 meters
6:00-6:15 p.m.: 3A boys/girls 3200 meters

— Chris Abshire

Here are all the May 14 field finals at the 2026 Colorado state track & field championships:

8:30 A.M.

5A girls pole vault and discus
5A boys long jump
4A girls high jump and shot put
4A boys triple jump

11/11:30 A.M.

5A boys pole vault and discus
5A girls long jump
4A boys high jump and shot put
4A girls triple jump

1:30/2:00/2:30 P.M.

3A boys triple jump
3A girls pole vault and discus
2A boys high jump
2A girls long jump and shot put

4/5 P.M.

3A boys high jump
3A girls triple jump
1A girls pole vault and discus
1A boys long jump and shot put

— Chris Abshire

Since the calendar hit 2000, there have been many remarkable achievements from local athletes at the Colorado state track & field meet.

From throws domination to Ray Bozmans’ sprint sweep or multiple sister acts, here are 15 of the best Fort Collins-area performances in the new millennium.

Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.

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Colorado

City leaders working to address housing deficit

Published

16 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

City leaders working to address housing deficit

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Efforts are underway to bring more homes to Colorado Springs, just days after housing advocates pointed out some shortfalls. The Pikes Peak Housing Network says El Paso County has a housing deficit of between 13,000 and 27,000 homes right now. The organization says affordable housing remains a big need, but Colorado Springs officials say the community is pushing back on some developments.

Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade said housing “Will continue to be a crisis, but it’s also an opportunity.”

“Homes have risen far more in price than income; three times more,” said Pikes Peak Housing Network Executive Director Jill Gaebler.

Gaebler presented to the Colorado Springs City Council on Monday and said El Paso County is not building enough homes that the average person can afford right now. She said the median home price in the county currently sits around $500,000.

“The average age of the first-time homebuyer has increased to 40 years old. Just a decade ago, it was 31 years old,” said Gaebler, “we’re renting longer, getting that nest egg ready to purchase a home and put down a deposit.”

In Colorado Springs, Mayor Mobolade says the city is working on the issue.

“We’ve invested $230 million in affordable housing projects… But what I’m really proud of is 3000 homes since I got into office, affordable homes,” said Mobolade.

City of Colorado Springs Media Relations Manager Max D’Onofrio said in a statement to FOX21 the city is working to advance several initiatives, including “developing a Housing Action Plan; investing in new affordable and attainable housing through federal funds and private‑activity bonds; supporting rehabilitation programs for low‑income seniors; providing tenant‑based rental assistance; strengthening partnerships with the Colorado Springs Housing Authority; and maintaining the City’s eligibility for Proposition 123 to keep more projects moving forward.”

“We will continue to ensure that every money from the federal government that passes through the city and every money from the state that passes through the city will be prioritized for housing that targets the area median income that our residents need,” said Mobolade.

Gaebler says her organization helps builders who construct all types of homes connect with decision makers when seeking project approval. But she and the mayor say affordable housing often gets pushback from the community.

“It’s getting harder and harder for those projects to get approved because community members fight and oppose a lot of these housing developments,” said Gaebler.

“We’re seeing a pushback from our community on just about every affordable housing project,” said Mobolade, “I know people get hung up on that term. We’re not talking about Section 8 lower-income homes, not that that doesn’t matter, that matters. We’re talking about teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers, military members that can’t afford to live in this city.”

D’Onofrio also stated, while the city focuses on affordable rentals and attainable homeownership, it is also aiming to preserve neighborhood character and protect quality of life.

The city did not give a date on when it is aiming to complete the Housing Action Plan, which it says is currently in the works.

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Glendale rejects Colorado Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit plan; CDOT data shows some commute times could double

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

Glendale rejects Colorado Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit plan; CDOT data shows some commute times could double

Glendale city leaders are forcefully opposing Colorado’s proposed Bus Rapid Transit project on Colorado Boulevard, warning the plan could dramatically worsen traffic for drivers while delivering only modest transit gains.

Last week, Glendale City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution recommending “no build” for the Colorado Department of Transportation’s proposed Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, project along a seven-mile stretch of Colorado Boulevard.

“Hell no,” Glendale City Manager Chuck Line said in an interview with CBS Colorado.

Glendale City Manager Chuck Line

CBS

“The juice is not worth the squeeze, not by a little, but by a long shot,” Line said.

The resolution cites concerns about increased congestion and what Glendale leaders described as negative impacts that outweigh the project’s forecasted increases in bus ridership and reductions in transit travel times.

And some of CDOT’s own projections appear to support at least part of Glendale’s concerns.

According to agency data reviewed by CBS Colorado, one proposed configuration featuring center- and side-running bus lanes would double southbound commute times for drivers traveling the full 7-mile corridor — from about 25 minutes to roughly 50 minutes.

Another option using side-running lanes would increase travel times by about 40%, according to CDOT projections.

Colorado Boulevard runs north-south in the eastern part of the Denver metro area.

CBS

Drivers traveling shorter distances would likely experience smaller delays.

CDOT spokesperson Tamara Rollison suggested for people not wanting to spend more time stuck in Colorado Boulevard traffic, “Busses could be a viable option to take instead of your vehicle.”

“The plans they are offering,” said Line, “are so extreme and have such a big impact on millions of residents of this area that I don’t think they should be considering any of these three plans and should go back to the drawing board.”

CDOT is studying the BRT project as a way to improve transit service and safety along Colorado Boulevard between 40th Avenue and Hampden Avenue. About 1 mile of the corridor runs through Glendale.

The agency is considering several alternatives, including side-running bus lanes, center-running bus lanes, and mixed-flow traffic. No final decision has been made, and the project does not yet have a finalized cost estimate. CDOT hopes the eventual design will reduce crashes, improve traffic flow, and speed up bus service.

“A critical goal of this project is to improve safety as Colorado Boulevard is on the High Injury Network and has one of the highest crash rates and road-related fatalities in the region,” said Rollison.

CDOT data shows all of the proposed options would increase bus speeds along the corridor by roughly 20% to 30%.

Part of that improvement would come from simply reducing the number of bus stops. There are currently about 50 stops along the 7-mile corridor. Under the proposed BRT plans, that number would be cut to approximately 20.

State data also shows roughly 2,800 people currently ride buses along the Colorado Boulevard corridor each day. CDOT forecasts that number could rise to about 6,000 daily riders under a BRT system.

But Line argues the tradeoff could create ripple effects far beyond Colorado Boulevard itself.

He said prioritizing north-south traffic flow would likely require longer green lights on Colorado Boulevard, leading to longer red lights — and backups — on east-west streets.

“If that convenience is disrupted,” said Line, “it could have a significant impact on our business community.”

Glendale is not alone in its concerns. The Hilltop Neighborhood Association recently met with CDOT representatives to discuss the proposed changes.

“The success of this project should not be measured only by bus ridership,” said association president Courtney Mamuscia. “It should also be measured by whether nearby neighborhoods remain safe, livable, and protected from cut-through traffic.”

Residents worry that reducing lanes on Colorado Boulevard could divert more traffic onto neighborhood streets.

“Most residents,” said Mamuscia, “are skeptical of the current direction.”

She said many Hilltop residents share Glendale’s concerns that increasing bus ridership may not justify disruptions for tens of thousands of daily drivers.

CDOT has scheduled an open house on the Colorado Boulevard BRT project for Wednesday, May 13, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Clayton Early Learning Center, 3801 M.L.K. Jr. Blvd. in Denver. People who are interested but can’t attend can take an online survey on a special section of CDOT’s website.

“We are still in the planning process, figuring out what is the best solution for Colorado Boulevard,” said Rollison, “and we haven’t gotten there yet.”

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