Colorado Springs City Council opposes Proposition HH

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - The Colorado Springs City Council voted 7-0 on a motion to oppose Proposition HH on Oct. 24. Two city council members were absent at the time of the vote.

Proposition HH is a complex financial re-arrangement bill, aimed at reducing taxpayers' property tax bill by taking money out of their TABOR refund. The additional $2.2 billion dollars retained by the state as a result of this bill would go towards education and rental assistance after it reimburses local governments for lost property tax revenue.

According to the Colorado Springs City Council, its primary concern lies in how the proposition will limit its control over the city budget. That's why Councilmember Dave Donelson made the motion to propose the opposition.

Additionally, for many council members, there are problems with how it's written. Council Member Nancy Henjum -- one of the councilmembers absent from the vote -- chose to leave the room instead of voting because the language was too complex for her to understand, even after consulting experts.

"We don't have the option of abstaining. We have to vote yes or no. And I didn't know how to vote yes or no on something that I haven't made up my mind on personally yet," Henjum said.

However, some believe it's a necessary restructuring of taxing that will give property owners a much-needed break, while funding causes like education and rental assistance.

State Representative Stephanie Vigil endorsed the bill and sees it as a responsible way to change a dysfunctional tax structure. She thinks it balances out the interests of local government and middle to low-income community members who will feel the pinch on their property taxes next year.

"I don't want our constituents to hurt like that next year. We need some relief for them. But I don't want to gut our local governments either. So this is the responsible way to go about it," Vigil said.

Councilmember Donelson says it's an overall tax hike disguised as a decrease.

"In the first few years, it may seem like a good deal. You may feel like you're getting something back, but it's really, it's tax hike and that's why it is on the ballot, because if it was simply lowering taxes, they wouldn't have to put it on the ballot," Donelson said.

The City Council's decision is merely a statement to the community regarding their beliefs on this proposition.

"The good news is, you know, I believe in the wisdom of the crowd, and the voters will decide what's best," Henjum said.