Taxpayer Protection & TABOR | Chris Richardson | Colorado House District 56 

"Government doesn't create wealth, it spends the wealth created by hardworking Coloradans. The first responsibility of government is to spend wisely and know when enough is enough." 

Learn why Rep. Chris Richardson is committed to protecting Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR), limiting government growth, reducing taxes, and ensuring taxpayers, not politicians, control their hard-earned money. 

The Money Government Spends Belongs to You

Every budget debate at the Capitol begins with someone else's paycheck.

Before government can spend a dollar, a Colorado family has to earn it.

That simple truth is sometimes forgotten.

Families across House District 56 make difficult financial decisions every day. They prioritize needs over wants. They delay purchases when money is tight. They save for emergencies because they know unexpected expenses are inevitable.

Government should operate with that same discipline. Unfortunately, too often the conversation at the Capitol begins with how to spend more rather than how to spend smarter.

As your State Representative, I believe taxpayers deserve a government that respects every dollar it collects. Government should provide essential services efficiently, budget responsibly, and return excess revenue to the people who earned it.

That philosophy is embodied in one of Colorado's greatest constitutional protections: The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.

Why TABOR Matters to House District 56

House District 56 is home to hardworking families, retirees, veterans, ranchers, farmers, small-business owners, teachers, healthcare workers, truck drivers, and countless others who understand the value of a dollar.

For many families, there isn't extra money at the end of the month.

An additional property tax, insurance premium, utility bill, or state fee isn't an inconvenience—it changes family decisions.

Will they postpone replacing an aging pickup? Can they still afford college savings? Will they take a vacation? Can they hire another employee? Will they remain in Colorado after retirement?

Those decisions matter.

TABOR recognizes that government does not have the first claim on a family's income.

The people do.

What Makes TABOR Unique

Colorado voters approved the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights in 1992.

It amended the Colorado Constitution to establish several important taxpayer protections.

TABOR:

• Requires voter approval before new statewide taxes are imposed.

• Limits the growth of state revenue.

• Requires excess revenue to be returned to taxpayers unless voters approve otherwise.

• Restricts debt without voter approval.

• Promotes transparency and accountability in public finance.

Whether someone agrees with every aspect of TABOR or not, one fact is undeniable:

TABOR fundamentally changed the relationship between taxpayers and government.

Instead of assuming government automatically keeps every additional dollar it collects, TABOR requires government to ask permission.

That principle remains as important today as it was more than three decades ago.

My Principles

Government Exists to Serve the People

Government provides valuable services. It builds roads. Supports public safety. Educates children. Protects vulnerable citizens. Maintains public infrastructure.

Those responsibilities require tax dollars.

But government should never forget whose money it is spending. Taxpayers are not merely a funding source. They are the owners of government.

Public officials are temporary stewards of public resources.

Growth in Government Should Reflect Growth in Families

When family income increases, responsible households often save, invest, pay down debt, or prepare for future uncertainty.

Government should exercise similar restraint. Economic growth should not automatically become an excuse for permanent government expansion. One-time revenue should generally fund one-time priorities—not permanent programs requiring future tax increases.

Government should prepare for economic downturns instead of assuming good years will last forever. Colorado's recent budget challenges illustrate why. When spending commitments grow faster than sustainable revenue, difficult decisions inevitably follow.

Responsible budgeting means avoiding commitments that taxpayers cannot realistically support over time.

Tax Relief Should Be the Default

When government collects more money than constitutional limits allow, the default should be straightforward: Return it.

Families know better than government how to spend their own money. Some may pay bills. Others may save. Others may invest in a business, education, equipment, or retirement.

That diversity of choices strengthens Colorado's economy far more effectively than concentrating additional spending decisions in Denver.

Every Tax Has Consequences

Taxes influence behavior. Higher taxes affect:

• business investment;

• job creation;

• housing affordability;

• retirement decisions;

• entrepreneurship;

• consumer spending;

• and economic competitiveness.

Colorado should strive to remain competitive with neighboring states while funding essential services responsibly. That balance is possible. But it requires lawmakers to evaluate not only how much revenue government could collect, but also how taxes affect the people paying them.

Affordability Begins with Fiscal Discipline

Every legislative session includes proposals that sound reasonable when considered individually. A new tax. A new fee. A new surcharge. A new assessment. A new dedicated revenue stream.

Each may appear relatively small. But Colorado families experience them collectively. When added together, they become:

• higher grocery bills,

• higher housing costs,

• higher utility bills,

• higher insurance premiums,

• higher transportation costs,

• and reduced disposable income.

Government cannot solve affordability problems while simultaneously increasing the overall cost of living.

Fiscal discipline is itself an affordability strategy.

Property Taxes

For most Colorado families, the largest tax they pay is not their income tax.

It is their property tax.

Rapid increases in assessed values have placed significant pressure on homeowners, farmers, ranchers, seniors, and small businesses.

Property taxes fund important local services.

But dramatic increases can force families to make difficult financial decisions or even leave communities they have called home for decades.

I have consistently supported practical reforms that provide property tax relief while protecting essential local government services.

I also sponsored legislation closing an unintended metro district property tax loophole that unfairly shifted tax burdens onto homeowners.

Protecting taxpayers sometimes means reducing taxes.

Sometimes it means ensuring taxes are applied fairly.

Both are important.

Defending TABOR

Over the years, numerous proposals have attempted to weaken, reinterpret, bypass, or permanently retain revenue that TABOR would otherwise return to taxpayers.

Some have been presented as temporary.

Others have been framed as emergencies.

Still others have proposed constitutional changes.

Regardless of the approach, I begin with one guiding question:

Should taxpayers, not politicians, make this decision?

If the answer is yes, then voters should have the opportunity to decide.

I opposed recent proposals that would have substantially altered Colorado's constitutional tax structure because I believe those decisions belong to the people—not the legislature acting alone.

TABOR is not simply about taxes.

It is about preserving the public's authority over taxation.

Responsible Budgeting

Colorado's budget has grown substantially over the past decade.

That growth reflects population increases, inflation, expanded programs, and rising costs.

It also demonstrates why careful budgeting matters.

Government should:

• prioritize core services;

• regularly evaluate program effectiveness;

• eliminate outdated or duplicative programs;

• strengthen reserve funds;

• prepare for economic downturns;

• and measure success by outcomes, not spending totals.

Taxpayers deserve evidence that programs work before government asks for additional resources.

Good intentions alone are not sufficient.

My Record

Since taking office, I have consistently advocated for responsible budgeting and taxpayer protection.

My work has included:

• defending TABOR's constitutional protections;

• opposing unnecessary tax increases;

• opposing constitutional efforts to weaken taxpayer protections;

• supporting practical property tax relief;

• sponsoring legislation improving fairness in property taxation;

• scrutinizing fiscal notes and long-term budget impacts;

• questioning permanent spending commitments funded with temporary revenue;

• advocating for greater transparency in state budgeting.

Every budget decision should answer two questions:

1. Is this truly necessary?

2. Is this the best use of taxpayers' money?

If either answer is uncertain, government should proceed cautiously.

Looking Ahead

Colorado's future does not depend upon collecting the highest taxes. It depends upon creating the strongest economy.

A growing private economy generates opportunity. Opportunity creates jobs. Jobs create income. Income supports families. Healthy families create strong communities.

Government benefits most when citizens prosper. That relationship should never be reversed.

Colorado can maintain excellent schools, safe communities, quality transportation, and essential public services while respecting taxpayers and living within constitutional limits.

Fiscal responsibility and economic growth are partners, not competitors.

Key Facts

TABOR Protects Taxpayers By:

• Requiring voter approval for new statewide taxes.

• Limiting state revenue growth.

• Returning excess revenue to taxpayers.

• Restricting government borrowing without voter approval.

• Increasing transparency and accountability.

My Priorities

• Protect TABOR.

• Oppose unnecessary tax increases.

• Return excess revenue to taxpayers.

• Provide responsible property tax relief.

• Improve government transparency.

• Maintain balanced budgets.

• Strengthen reserve funds.

• Evaluate program effectiveness.

• Protect voter authority over taxation.

• Support long-term fiscal sustainability.

Related Issues

• Cost of Living & Affordability

• Businesses & Jobs

• Local Control

• Transportation & Infrastructure

• Agriculture & Rural Colorado

Closing

TABOR is often described as a tax policy. I believe it is something even more important. It is a statement about who government ultimately serves.

It reminds elected officials that every dollar appropriated began as the result of someone's hard work. It ensures taxpayers, not politicians, retain the final authority over major tax increases.

And it encourages government to focus on efficiency, accountability, and responsible stewardship rather than assuming every additional dollar collected should automatically be spent.

Colorado's future will not be secured by growing government faster than families can afford.

It will be secured by growing opportunity, rewarding work, respecting taxpayers, and preserving the constitutional principles that have helped make Colorado unique.

As your State Representative, I will continue fighting to ensure that government lives within its means—just as the families I represent must do every day.