Colorado House passes plan addressing surplus budget refunds

Colorado House Democrats have passed a plan that would prevent future taxpayer refunds to use the money for education and transportation.

The booming economy means Colorado is collecting more taxes than it’s allowed to keep. The state constitution mandates refunds when tax collections exceed the rate of inflation of population growth.

A bill approved by the House Monday would keep the state under that limit by reclassifying the hospital provider fee, a charge to facilities that the state uses to get a federal match to help with Medicaid costs. The change would mean the fee would not count toward the tax limit, stopping refunds projected to go out in three years.

Republicans oppose the plan, which faces long odds in the GOP-led Senate.