If you don’t quite get enough of the “good news” on Sunday from the pulpit, relax. Gov. Ritter’s tax “freeze” has more in store for you. Original estimates to confiscate $48 million from the TABOR violating scheme have now been revised to $114 million.

Only government would have the gall to spin that kind of slight of hand into a “good news” tale, but that’s exactly what’s coming from the Ritter administration. Smacking homeowners with additional property tax adds insult to injury at a time when the economy is shaky and the housing market is reeling.

Denver City Auditor, Dennis Gallagher – author of the constitutional provision know as the Gallagher Amendment that regulates property tax rates – took a swipe at the “freeze” and suggested that voters ought be aware of this increase in their taxes when they are asked to consider other tax increasing measures. That prompted Ritter spokesman, Evan Dreyer to rebuke him saying, “What part of ‘good news’ does Mr. Gallagher not understand?” Dreyer explained that when property tax revenue goes up government has more money to spend, a fact that I don’t think escaped Gallagher, but one that Dreyer clearly thinks is a cause for celebration rather than concern.

We’ve got more than a few problems with the “freeze,” and have written about it before:

• It’s against the law: Colorado’s constitution includes TABOR, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, which clearly states “a tax policy change directly causing a net tax revenue gain” is prohibited without a vote of the people. The Governor and Democrat majority in the legislature violated this provision.
• False pretense: The 2007 session ended about four months ago. The “freeze” estimated increase in revenue of $48 million – now increased to $114 million – smells a lot like government either not doing their homework, or intentionally trying to pull the wool over somebody’s eyes. Neither case is acceptable.
• Bad timing: With revelations of the $114 estimate, the administration has been quick on the defense trying to spin this into “good news” that property values are going up and thus will yield more tax revenue under their scheme. Try explaining that bit of happy tidings to folks whose income hasn’t kept pace, or who are already struggling just to make a mortgage payment. Amid legitimate concerns about the economy and possible recession, the timing of this could not be worse. Whose money is it anyway? Government always thinks they get theirs first.
• Bad faith: it seems more than just a little disingenuous of the proponents of the “freeze” to sell the idea on a $48 million estimate, and now just months later when it’s revealed that the more accurate figure is $114 million (a 237% increase) there is no willingness to roll back the tax bite and at least stick to the original pledge. It’s very reminiscent of the Ref. C debate that was sold to voters as a $3.7 billion “time-out” and now looks more like about $6 billion. In the real world, people are prosecuted for false advertising and con-games – in government they get expect to get re-elected.
• More on the way: While the Democrats spin this as just a little bit more tax revenue, they fail to mention all the other attacks on your wallet. They are basking in the glow of $5.9 billion of Ref. C additional tax revenue (not the original $3.7 estimate that proved way under estimated, too), and as the Denver Post reported, already 17 new tax increase proposals are being considered for the 2008 session. That doesn’t even take into account local governments like Denver that have used up half the alphabet for their own tax proposals to put on the ballot.

Amazing, isn’t it, that those with the power to tax us – and the power to spend our money – have an unlimited imagination of good ideas and good ways to use it. As Dreyer clearly believes, it is “good news” when their government has more of our money to spend. After all, they surely know better how to use it.

So brace yourself, because by all indications there is more of their good medicine for us on the way. With so much “good news” to proclaim, maybe someday soon the Governor will be announcing a good old fashioned tax raising revival on the steps of the capitol. I think I’ll miss that one.