Don't say we didn't warn you. Dems set to increase the tax burden on every Thornton resident. (Photo/manufrakass, Flickr)

When the state legislature went into session last month we warned you to hold on to your wallets.  The writing was on the wall even then that rather than make real budget cuts, the Democrat controlled legislature would start hitting taxpayers in the pocketbook.  That unfortunately has come to fruition.

Thornton’s elected representatives were unanimous in their agreement that in these tough times, it is the taxpayer who should foot the bill for their inability to control government spending.  Through their votes to eliminate a bevy of tax breaks, Representatives Ed Casso, John Soper and Judy Solano have increased the tax burden on every Thornton taxpayer and small business.

The problem with the state budget is not that citizens and businesses aren’t taxed enough – it is out of control government spending and waste that have put us at a $1.3 billion shortfall in Colorado.  These taxes in the end do little to provide real solutions to the budget crisis and put an undue load on citizens and businesses already struggling in these tough economic times. 

It truly is a shame that our representatives believe we need to pay more to fix their mess. 

On a somewhat related note, CDOT tweeted the following announcement this afternoon:

Colorado has obligated all highway Recovery Act funds nearly one month ahead of schedule. Visit http://bit.ly/a2KHVf for more info.

Wow!  There’s something to be proud of.  Colorado can blow taxpayer money faster than most other states. 

• On the net: Bills to eliminate some state tax breaks advance

HB 10-1189 – Eliminate the sales-tax exemption for materials used for direct mail, generating up to $1.5 million

HB 10-1191 – Remove the sales-tax exemption for candy and soda, $18 million

HB 10-1192 -  Repeal a regulation exempting downloaded software from sales tax, up to $20.4 million

HB 10-1193 -  Eliminate the sales-tax exemption on out-of-state retail sales made through in-state websites, up to $5 million

HB 10-1194 -  Repeal the sales-tax exemption on nonessential food items such as paper bags, napkins and plastic forks, up to $2.1 million

HB 10-1195 -  Repeal the sales-tax exemption on agricultural compounds such as pesticides and bull semen, up to $4.6 million

HB 10-1196 -  Limit a tax credit for alternative fuel vehicles, up to $2.7 million

HB 10-1199  – Limit the ability of corporations to carry net operating losses in prior years forward on their tax liability, up to $16.8 million

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