Re: “Gessler should split difference,” Jan. 27 editorial.
More accounting gimmicks and financial shell games are not the solution to Colorado’s budget problems.
Some legislators are disgruntled in my opposition to raiding the business filing fees, but my office — the secretary of state — is standing up for responsible budgeting and planning. Predictably, the same people who created Colorado’s budget mess have howled in protest. But we need to be honest in our budgeting.
The secretary of state’s office is “cash funded.” In other words, it doesn’t take a dime of taxpayer money. Instead, the entire budget comes from business fees. We keep fees low and service quality high — so businesses use our services more, and we don’t jump from one crisis to another. Colorado businesses are already paying their fair share of the taxes to the General Fund and some of their fees are paying for elections. By attempting to raid these business fees, Colorado’s job creators will be on the hook for even more.
Unfortunately, Colorado has suffered from irresponsible government spending over the last several years. As part of that, the general assembly would “sweep” cash funds. That meant legislators pocketed fees and spent them on other purposes. That is a hidden tax. A good example is your new motor vehicle “fee.” In practice, that fee is a tax in disguise, because it pays for a lot more than your vehicle registration.
This is a cynical way to run government. Understandably, Coloradans feel misled. So my office is working to limit that practice.
When it comes to business fees, that spending should be limited. If there are extra fees, we should provide better services, reduce (or refund) those fees, or plan for the future. We shouldn’t use those funds to paper over bad budgeting decisions from the past.
Colorado needs to be business-friendly. A good business climate produces jobs and prosperity. But taking business “fees” is just another way of taxing Colorado businesses.
If we want Colorado to have a sustainable budget and if we want our private sector to create jobs, then we need stop relying on one-time budget gimmicks.
Scott Gessler is Colorado’s secretary of state.
