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Articles by Kelly Caufield
Address the roots of Colorado’s affordability woes
Colorado is at a crossroads just in time for today’s opening of the Colorado General Assembly. Individuals and families are not choosing to move here as much as they were. Statewide net migration was 52.5% lower in 2025 than it was in 2015, when Colorado was one of the nation’s most popular destinations for movers — and one of the nation’s fastest-growing economies.
PERSPECTIVE: Budgeting for reality
At the dawn of the next Colorado budget cycle, it behooves state legislators to ask: Just what exactly is in store for the Centennial State down the economic road? The answer to that question is the key to funding a realistic budget. Colorado’s economy was growing at one of the nation’s fastest clips in the mid-2010s.
Perspective: Spending more on fewer students
Many Colorado voters will vote on school board candidates this fall. As voters look for resources to understand better the health and wellness of their school district, new data on spending, enrollment and proficiency trends could be a helpful resource. For years, the Common Sense Institute has conducted a comprehensive analysis of district-level spending, revenue, pay and performance of Colorado’s K-12 schools.
Perspective: Financial fraud’s true cost
Kelly Caufield. Colorado’s financial fraud is getting worse, following a national trend at the worst possible time. The state’s population of fraud-susceptible seniors is growing. Economic headwinds are not as strong as they were. State and local budgets are not as robust as they were. Financial fraud is a full-blown economic crisis in Colorado — one that drains billions from our economy and robs thousands of Coloradans of their livelihoods.
Perspective: Unsafe schools, absent kids Original
Colorado’s K-12 schools have a behavioral problem. More than just student safety and general decorum are at stake if schools cannot address it. Colorado needs not only to refresh its population growth but make the most of the population it has. Schools are the incubator for the future workforce in Colorado’s new, highly lucrative knowledge economy, and one that demographic realities say will be increasingly important in the coming years.
Perspective: Colorado’s population - losing steam Original
Like it or not, Colorado’s future as an economic leader will depend on repeating the massive influx of residents that characterized the 2010s. Let’s lay out Colorado’s economic reality. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Colorado’s fortunes began to change in earnest. Droves of young workers poured in at the dawn of the tech revolution, fueling the economy and cityscape we know today — the nightlife, the breweries, the events centers and coffee shops. Outdoor culture blossomed.
Opinion: Analysis of costs of Colorado’s aggressive environmental, emissions reductions policies is necessary addition to public discourse
Equipping Coloradans with facts is not partisan. It’s just common sense. At the Common Sense Institute, the mission has always been clear: to provide data-driven, nonpartisan analysis of the major issues shaping Colorado’s future. CSI is at the forefront of important discussions concerning the future of free enterprise in Colorado and aims to have an impact on the issues that matter most to Coloradans. It has done so for 15 years and will continue doing so.
Perspective: Colorado’s costly climate fight
Too often in Colorado, the public discourse around energy, natural resources or transportation, is really a conversation about the environment, which is arguably one of the state’s biggest assets. Yet, while we work toward a cleaner environment, we must not ignore the costs of the state’s policies and how it impacts our economy and competitiveness. As previous Common Sense Institute research has explored, the state’s economic competitiveness is slipping.
Perspective: Back to work Original
The public sector should follow the private sector’s example on remote work; having popularized it five years ago, the private sector now is dialing it back. For instance, one of the largest employers in Colorado, Amazon, has eliminated remote work arrangements. Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase’s CEO, was one of the first leaders in his industry to welcome employees back to the office during the pandemic.
Perspective: Losing momentum Original
No one is moving to Colorado. So said headlines across the country when U-Haul released the latest national U-Haul Growth index. Colorado had the worst year-over-year drop in the nation. The 40th-place ranking is a colossal fall from 2023, when Colorado ranked ninth in the nation. According to U-Haul, no other state saw a bigger plummet in the rankings this year. It seems 300 days of sunshine, majestic mountains and unmatched outdoor recreation are not enough.
PERSPECTIVE: Colorado’s growing regulatory burden Original
The rising cost of living in Colorado is top of mind for everyone. Whether it’s housing, energy or food, the cost of being a Coloradan is quickly growing out of reach for many. Want to order a pizza? To have it delivered now comes with a $.27 fee — before adding the pepperoni. Checking out at the grocery store, the shoe store or even the hardware store? Expect to pay $.10 for a bag.
Kelly Caufield: The real price for Proposition HH
Proposition HH is one of the most complicated ballot measures ever presented to voters. It pulls multiple levers in tax laws, increases state spending, and has costly impacts for homeowners and renters. To help voters understand the impact of Prop HH on their own finances, CSI issued Proposition HH: The Taxpayer Dilemma, an in-depth analysis of the measure. In a nutshell, Prop HH would take your TABOR refund to pay down a small amount of your property tax.
GUEST COLUMN: Prop. HH lowers the boom on TABOR refunds
This November, voters will decide the fate of Proposition HH, a complicated ballot measure that would somewhat slow the rate of increase in property taxes Colorado homeowners pay by phasing out taxpayer refunds issued under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. I say somewhat slowdown because property taxes will still go up dramatically with HH. How much? 26% next year for the average Colorado homeowner, and as fast as property values increase thereafter.
GUEST COLUM: Prop. HH lowers the boom on TABOR refunds
This November, voters will decide the fate of Proposition HH, a complicated ballot measure that would somewhat slow the rate of increase in property taxes Colorado homeowners pay by phasing out taxpayer refunds issued under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. I say somewhat slowdown because property taxes will still go up dramatically with HH. How much? 26% next year for the average Colorado homeowner, and as fast as property values increase thereafter.
Prop. HH lowers the boom on TABOR refunds
This November, voters will decide the fate of Proposition HH, a complicated ballot measure that would somewhat slow the rate of increase in property taxes Colorado homeowners pay by phasing out taxpayer refunds issued under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. I say somewhat slowdown because property taxes will still go up dramatically with HH. How much? 26% next year for the average Colorado homeowner, and as fast as property values increase thereafter.
GUEST COLUMN: Prop. HH lowers the boom on TABOR refunds
This November, voters will decide the fate of Proposition HH, a complicated ballot measure that would somewhat slow the rate of increase in property taxes Colorado homeowners pay by phasing out taxpayer refunds issued under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. I say somewhat slowdown because property taxes will still go up dramatically with HH. How much? 26% next year for the average Colorado homeowner, and as fast as property values increase thereafter.
Prop. HH lowers the boom on TABOR refunds
This November, voters will decide the fate of Proposition HH, a complicated ballot measure that would somewhat slow the rate of increase in property taxes Colorado homeowners pay by phasing out taxpayer refunds issued under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. I say somewhat slowdown because property taxes will still go up dramatically with HH. How much? 26% next year for the average Colorado homeowner, and as fast as property values increase thereafter.
PERSPECTIVE: Another year, another record budget
For the last two weeks, state lawmakers along with policy leaders and concerned citizens have been focused on finalizing Colorado's 2023-24 state budget. The proposed budget represents state spending totaling $41.1 Billion. It’s a number larger than the GDP of Libya, Boliva, Uganda, Iceland and dozens of other countries. $41.1Billion also represents a 4.2% increase over last year and the largest budget in Colorado history. It warrants scrutiny. A budget represents a blueprint. A vision for the future.
PERSPECTIVE: Another year, another record budget
For the past two weeks, state lawmakers along with policy leaders and concerned citizens have been focused on finalizing Colorado’s 2023-24 budget. The proposed budget represents state spending totaling $41.1 billion. It’s a number larger than the GDP of Libya, Bolivia, Uganda, Iceland and dozens of other countries. $41.1 billion also represents a 4.2% increase over last year and the largest budget in Colorado history. It warrants scrutiny. A budget represents a blueprint. A vision for the future.
PERSPECTIVE: Homelessness - a Colorado problem
No other issue has captured headlines and tugged at heartstrings like people experiencing homelessness. It’s a topic that is dominating local elections across the state and driving candidates to answer questions about their plans to address it. How we respond to the crisis matters. To transform the system, we must first have a clear sense of resources being spent so we can make the best decisions as a community as to how those resources are allocated.
PERSPECTIVE: Homelessness - a Colorado problem
No other issue has captured headlines and tugged at heartstrings like people experiencing homelessness. It’s a topic that is dominating local elections across the state and driving candidates to answer questions about their plans to address it. How we respond to the crisis matters. To transform the system, we must first have a clear sense of resources being spent so we can make the best decisions as a community as to how those resources are allocated.
Senate Bill SB22-140 Equips Employers to Expand Work-Based Learning
Now is the time for Colorado to prioritize talent development. Recent legislation introduced by Senator James Coleman and Rep. Barbara McLachlan helps encourage employers to offer work-based learning programs for youth. This policy is part of a broader package of workforce related strategies seeking to implement several of the Governor’s key budget priorities.
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