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Ritter, Dems walking political tightrope on school funding plan

April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 24, 2007 at midnight

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Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter is putting most - if not all - of his fresh political capital on the line to win support for his controversial plan to free up more money for public schools.

At least three Senate Democrats harbor deep concerns about the property tax measure, mindful of the political backlash it could spur.

If they stick to their guns and oppose the measure, Ritter won't have enough votes to get his fundraising plan out of the Senate.

"It's a gutsy plan," said Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, a supporter. "The vote on this is going to require political leadership and courage. I think the governor is going to deliver both, but it's going to cost him, and us, some political capital."

Ritter has proposed freezing the property tax rates in most districts to shore up the state education fund, which is expected to go broke by 2011.

Republicans say Ritter's plan amounts to a tax increase and should go to the voters as required by the state constitution under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.

Three Democrats who are expected to run in 2008 could see the tax issue used against them.

Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, of Coal Creek Canyon, is running for Congress in the 2nd District. Sens. Betty Boyd, of Lakewood, and Bob Bacon, of Fort Collins, both of whom live in tough swing districts, are up for re-election.

"Raising property taxes is about the most politically dangerous thing you can do in the West," said Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita.

Ritter knows the stakes are high. He has been meeting privately with Senate Democrats leery of the proposal.

"Gov. Ritter believes we have a very real problem with the state education fund," said spokesman Evan Dreyer. "He's working hard talking to folks about the need to fix it."

The governor needs 18 of the 20 Democratic votes in the Senate. All 15 Senate Republicans are opposed.

The three Democrats who have voiced the strongest concerns are Fitz-Gerald and Sens. Ron Tupa, of Boulder, and Peter Groff, of Denver. Groff and Tupa say they are fundamentally opposed to the bill because it is, in effect, a property tax increase.

Fitz-Gerald said Monday she hasn't decided how to vote.

Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver, predicts a close vote if the proposal makes it to the floor.

In the meantime, he said, there will be more conversations.

"If they don't have the votes, they won't run it because they don't want to have people making tough votes," he said. "It's a persuasive conversation taking place."

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