Phil Castle, The Business Times

Three Western Colorado legislators said they’re pleased with some of what happened during the latest session — including the measures they helped shepherd into law.

But they were also disappointed by what else transpired — including a last-minute push to put a measure on the ballot aimed at reducing property tax rates while also allowing the state to keep and spend revenues above the Taxpayer’s Bill or Rights constitutional cap.

“It’s such a scam. It really is about raiding TABOR,” said State Sen. Janice Rich, a Republican from Grand Junction.

State Reps. Rick Taggart from Grand Junction and Matt Soper from Delta were among the House Republicans who walked out in protest of tactics that limited consideration and debate of the measure. “Quite honestly, we’d had enough,” Taggart said.

Rich, Taggart and Soper reviewed the recently concluded session of the Colorado General Assembly during a legislative wrap-up lunch hosted by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce.

The three cited success in the number of measures in which they were involved passed and signed into law. They said they also were successful in efforts to change other measures. Soper said an amendment to provide $1 million in grants for rural hospitals ultimately was included in the state budget.

Meanwhile, another measure that would have implemented what Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and other lawmakers touted as a comprehensive approach to promote affordable housing — but faced opposition for usurping local controls — failed. Rich said a version of the bill could return in the next session.

Yet another measure that would have required retailers and businesses in the hospitality industry to provide written notice of employee work schedules 14 days in advance died in a House committee.

The three local legislators said they were most disappointed, though, by Senate Bill 303 and end-of-session efforts to push through legislation to ask voters this November to forego part of their TABOR refunds in exchange for providing tax relief to property owners.

Senate Bill 303 would ask voters this November for permission to raise what’s called the Referendum C cap by 1 percent and keep that additional revenue for 10 years. What’s expected would be about $167 million a year in revenue would go to local governments to compensate for reductions in property tax revenue.

Proposition HH would reduce the residential assessment rate from 7.15 percent to 6.7 percent as well as reduce the taxable value of homes by $40,000 in 2023 and 2023 if passed.

Soper described the plan as a slight reduction in property taxes, but also a smaller refund of revenues the state collects above the constitutional limits imposed by the Taxpayer’s Bill or Rights.

Rich said: “It’s all about getting rid of TABOR.”

The three legislators said Senate Bill 303 was introduced in the closing days of the session and they encountered difficulty obtaining the bill to read it and find out what the measure entailed. Then debate on the bill was limited.

Asked what measures they’d pass if they could, Taggart said legislation is needed to provided dedicated helicopters for search and rescue operations in Colorado.

Rich said more work is needed to maintain and improve highways. “That affects everything we do in Colorado.”

Soper said he’d undo attacks on the oil and natural gas industry in Colorado and make Colorado a more business-friendly state.