[bouldercouncilhotline] Hotline: Deconstructing TABOR's requirement that Marijuana taxes be refunded

[cmosupport at bouldercolorado.gov]

Sender: Cowles, Macon

Dear Senator Steadman and good colleagues:


The fact that TABOR requires the State of Colorado refund MJ taxes that have been collected should be viewed as an opportunity: to remove permanently one of the important structural features of TABOR. Deconstructing TABOR is a multi step process, because of the one subject rule adopted the year after TABOR's passage. Seize this opportunity to take the first step with a referendum on this part of TABOR in 2015.


The General Assembly should seize this opportunity to remove PERMANENTLY the part of TABOR that requires such a refund. The damaging effect of TABOR is highlighted by the absurd result that in the context of a booming state economy the amount of MJ taxes--approved by the voters in a TABOR compliant state wide initiative--must nevertheless be refunded.


If the Referendum is accompanied by a statutory reduction in the state excise tax (15%) on recreational marijuana, then the package of a TABOR Referendum plus an excise tax reduction would have significant support in the state, and would likely produce substantial financial support from the MJ industry to help with its passage.


We have waited too long to deconstruct TABOR. Let's take the first step. We can do this.


Macon Cowles
Boulder City Council Member
1726 Mapleton Ave.
Boulder, Colorado 80304
CowlesM at bouldercolorado.gov
(303) 447-3062
(303) 638-6884