The members of a small business advocacy group in Colorado have come out against a ballot measure that would reduce property tax rates, but backfill revenue with money collected above state constitutional limits imposed by the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Fully 90 percent of members of the National Federation of Independent Business in Colorado responding to a special survey indicated they opposed Proposition HH. While 9 percent said they supported the measure, 1 percent were undecided.

Tony Gagliardi, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business in Colorado, said the survey results aren’t surprising.

“Small business owners have been unwavering in their support of TABOR for the 30 years of its existence,” Gagliardi said.

Proposition HH would reduce the state tax assessment rates for residential and commercial properties, but also backfill reduced tax revenues for local governments and school and special districts with other revenue collected above TABOR limits. That could in turn reduce the money the state returns to taxpayers through so-called TABOR refunds.

The Colorado Legislature voted to put the measure on the ballot in an end-of-session push that was criticized by local Republican lawmakers.

Mesa County joined with 11 other counties and the group Advance Colorado in a lawsuit challenging a proposal the counties and group contend combines multiple subjects into a single measure in violation of the Colorado Constitution.

The survey of NFIB members in Colorado asked one question: “Should Colorado reduce TABOR tax refunds and use the retained funds to lower property taxes and increase education and local government funding?”

The NFIB polls members on a regular basis to gauge their positions on issues and uses the results for its lobbying efforts on state and national levels.

“This result doesn’t really surprise, but it is a shining example of something small business owners cherish — predictability. Predictability in rules, regulations and taxes,” Gagliardi said.