Letters to the Editor

Posted Wednesday, March 12, 2025 5:56 pm

Facts about TABOR

Editor: The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) was approved by voters in 1992. Colorado voters approved a measure which amended Article X of the Colorado Constitution that restricts revenues for all levels of government (state, local and schools). Under TABOR, state and local governments cannot raise tax rates without voter approval and cannot spend revenues collected under existing tax rates without voter approval. Revenue in excess of the TABOR limit, must be refunded to taxpayers. Under TABOR, the state has returned more than $2 billion to taxpayers. For 32 years Colorado citizens have received a TABOR check with no conditional requirements. Last year, taxpayers received an $800 check for one qualifying taxpayer or $1,600 for two qualifying taxpayers filing jointly. Today’s Colorado Department of Revenue’s web page states: “Attention, please remember that you must claim the state sales tax refund (TABOR refund) when filing your state income tax return or Property Tax/Rent/Heat Rebate (PTC) Application. If you claimed a 2024 refund, the TABOR refund will be combined and issued with your tax refund. Unlike the 2022 Colorado cashback, no separate check will be issued.” Now you, the taxpayer, must opt in your “Modified Adjusted Gross Income” from your Federal Tax Report to determine your TABOR refund. If you do not fill in lines 31 to 34 on your state 2024 Colorado individual income tax return form DR 0104, you will not receive a refund. No $800 or $1,600 checks this year. In 2024 the Democrat majority state legislature and Gov. Jared Polis are running a $1 billion shortfall in the $16 billion general fund for the fiscal year that begins July 1. According to Colorado Congressman Ken deGraaf, Colorado is more like $4.5 billion in the hole if you count “Certificates of Participation” — money the state owes but is creatively-accounted as “not debt”. All this debt despite record state revenues. Insult upon injury, the Democrat majority state legislature voted down reducing both the state income tax rate and taxes on social security. Colorado is one of nine states that taxes Social Security. No help for the elderly affected the most by inflation. A U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee’s report measured each state’s inflation from 2021 to 2024. Coloradans experienced the highest rates of inflation. Using the December 2024 Consumer Price Index data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Joint Economic Committee State Inflation Tracker estimates that the average household in Colorado is paying $1,329 more per month to purchase the same basket of goods and services as in January 2021. Cumulatively, the average Colorado household has spent $43,408 more due to inflation since January 2021. This happened with a Democrat Governor and majority state legislature. You get what you vote for.

Cori Dobson

Neil Watko

Gunnison GOP

To my fellow veterans

Editor: With recent and proposed workforce reductions at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), our national veteran service organizations — such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Fleet Reserve Association, and others — are working tirelessly to protect the services and benefits we have earned. These organizations are our voice in Washington, advocating for us through congressional testimony and direct engagement with VA leadership, including Secretary Collins. Access to quality health care remains a priority, especially in rural areas like ours. More local veterans are discovering that they can receive primary care through the VA Mobile Medical Unit, now offering appointments at the American Legion Post 54 building in Legion Park. These dedicated health care professionals are here to serve you — please take advantage of this valuable resource. Since 1919, American Legion Post 54 has been a welcoming hub for veterans and the Gunnison community. We remain committed to supporting one another, fostering camaraderie and ensuring that no veteran navigates their journey alone. If you or a fellow veteran needs assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can find us on Facebook at American Legion Post 54 Gunnison, email us at gunnisonpost54@gmail.com, or call me directly at 970.596.2841. A special thank you to Gunnison County Veteran Services for their ongoing support of our veteran community. Veteran Services Officer Steve Otero can be contacted at 970.641.7919.

John P. Nelson American Legion Post 54

Write the Oval Office

Editor: March 15, 2025 is the date to send a postcard to this administration for how you feel they are doing. You can send one or as many as you like to overwhelm this post office. Gunnison County can help this effort! Send your postcard to this address: Donald Trump 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Thank you for your time on this matter.

Susan Tyzzer

Crested Butte South

With a heart full of

gratitude

Editor: Part of how KBUT conducts our semi-annual pledge drives is writing a letter like this at the end to thank the community for its support. Our drive ended on Feb. 21, and it was another historical success. But I knew there would be more thanks to give and news to share, so I waited to write to the newspaper. In the meantime, we've announced the winner of our grand prize, held another amazing Mardi Gras parade in downtown Crested Butte and started preparations for two more great events. But first, the drive. As of Monday, March 10, we've brought in more than $94,000, absolutely blowing away our $75K goal. I try not to speak for people, but I'm comfortable speaking for the staff and the board of directors when I say we're honored and proud to share this accomplishment with each and every one of the 120-plus volunteer DJs and phone operators, food donors, new and renewing members, prize donors and listeners around the globe that made it happen. It takes an amazing organization, working together all year, and over the course of years, to make a radio station that small and large donors are happy to support when we ask. Our volunteers contribute to this beautiful effort all year, and it's so, so appreciated. Donors who contributed before the drive even started were entered to win our early bird prize: a trip to either Vail or Beaver Creek, including lift tickets and dining and shopping credits, courtesy of CBMR's Epic Promise. Drew Holbrook and Molly Susla won that prize. Everybody who gave during the drive, including early birds, were entered to win the grand prize, a Region 3 Trek in Nepal, courtesy of the Karuna Project. Nick and Tina Kempin won the grand prize. KBUT is so grateful for every donation, large or small, and to the businesses who donated such great prizes, which we know drove more donations. Last Tuesday, we held a Mardi Gras parade, and once again we were blown away by the community's level of participation. Andrew Hadley Architect offered a $500 prize for best float or Krewe, but KBUT wanted a stiffer competition, so we matched the prize. The Flauschink float, complete with beloved Has-beens, took the prize, and walked away with $1,000. February and March have kept KBUT super busy, and it's not over yet. As I type this on Monday afternoon, there are still a couple tickets available for Yurt Bingo on Thursday and Friday night this week at the Magic Meadows Yurt. Then we head right into prep for Disco Inferno coming up at the Center for the Arts Crested Butte. All I can say is thank you. Everyone at KBUT feels blessed to be part of an organization that enjoys such wide and deep community support all year, but especially the last few, and next few, weeks. KBUT loves the Gunnison Valley community, and you guys make it clear that you love us back.

Jackson Petito

KBUT

These would negatively impact our rights

Editor: Colorado gun owners, no less than 13 bills relating to our Second Amendment right to bear arms are/were being proposed in the state legislature in Denver. In my opinion, eight of these bills — if passed — will negatively affect that constitutional right. HB-1055: Unfortunately, the initiative to “Repeal Firearm Dealer Requirements and State Permit,” was killed in a House committee on Feb. 27. The eight “baddie bills” are as follows:

HB-1133: “Requirements for Sale of Firearms Ammunition” (Increases the state's restrictions on ammunition).
HB-1238: “Gun Show Requirements” (States restrictions on vendors and customers allowed at gun shows).
HB-1250: “Gun Violence Prevention and Parents of Students.” (Allows schools to distribute anti-gun propaganda in-house).
HB-1225: “Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act.”
HB-1262: “Regulate Private Security Officers and Agencies.”
SB-158: "State Agency Procurement and Disposal of Certain Items." (The "certain items" are firearms).

SB-059: “Supports for State Response to Mass Shootings.”

And lastly, the crown jewel of them all:

SB-003: The 2025 Semi-Auto Firearm Ban and Gun Owner Registry. (This bill's title says it all).

Unfortunately, it appears that our Colorado politicians are in a World Wrestling Federation competition with several other states with its quest to shred the Second from the first Ten Amendments of individual rights enshrined within our United States Constitution. The first pillar of gun control is “Slow the sale of firearms to the public.” The second is "Create a firearm owner registry." The third pillar is "A total ban on the private ownership of guns followed by confiscation."

Jon Matuszczak

Gunnison