Heads Up, Colorado – Fees Are Taxes Without Your Vote
Colorado voters approved TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) to ensure that tax increases require their consent and that if the state collects excess tax revenue, it must be returned to taxpayers. But over time, the state has increasingly relied on fees and enterprise funds, revenue streams that don’t require voter approval and aren’t counted the same way under TABOR.
Today, fee-based revenue in Colorado has grown dramatically, reaching $25.8 billion annually, a nearly 3,400% increase since TABOR was enacted in 1996.
At the same time, a growing share of state spending now sits outside traditional TABOR limits. In fact, about 74% of state spending bypasses those limits, meaning it is not subject to the same constraints or refund requirements.
The consequences of this shell game are real. In the 2026 Colorado legislative session alone, 35+ bills have been introduced that would create new fees, raise existing ones, or rely on fee-based funding. While these may not be labeled as “tax increases,” they function similarly by adding to the cost of living for families and businesses without direct voter approval.
The result is a system where government revenue continues to grow by taking money out of your pockets, while transparency, accountability and taxpayer approval are out the window.
For me, it raises a fundamental question: if the financial impact is the same, should the process require the same level of voter input? What do you think?
Source: https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org/colorado/research/taxes-and-fees/snapshot-of-fees-in-colorado-2025-update
