Lawmakers haggle over returning money to taxpayers
Bea Karnes
Denver Published 50 day(s) ago
Lawmakers tentatively approved a $17.6 billion state budget on Wednesday. Majority Democrats blocked an attempt by Republicans to force the state to return $118 million being collected from taxpayers from a freeze on mill levies for homeowners. Republicans claim it represents a tax increase that should go to the voters. Democrats say homeowners in 38 school districts this year would still see a tax cut.
Republicans also tried but failed to block the state from adding some of about 1,300 new state employees in the fiscal year beginning July 1. They warn those employees may have to be laid off if the economy turns sour.
