Judge rejects e ort to block 10-year property tax relief plan

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

An e ort by conservative scal activists and GOP-led counties to block a 10-year property tax plan formed by Gov. Jared Polis and Democrats in the legislature from going before voters in November was denied on June 9 by a Denver judge.

Denver District Court Judge David H. Goldberg found that he didn’t have jurisdiction to consider the case. But he also rejected arguments that Proposition HH violates requirements in the state constitution that ballot measures deal with a single subject and have clear titles.

e plainti s in the lawsuit, led in May, included Advance Colorado, a conservative political nonpro t, and more than a dozen Colorado counties controlled by Republicans. Several GOP county commissioners and Republican current and former politicians also signed onto the legal action.

“Prop. HH undoubtedly violates the single-subject and clear-title provisions in our constitution,” Michael Fields, who leads Advance Colorado, said in a written statement Friday. “We plan to appeal this decision.” e appeal will go directly to the Colorado Supreme Court.

Polis’ o ce said the governor “appreciates the court’s ruling to allow the voters the opportunity to enact Proposition HH as passed by the legislature.” Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, celebrated the ruling.

“I am pleased that the court today agrees that voters should have their say,” Fenberg said in a written statement.

Sen.Chris Hansen, a Denver Democrat and an architect of the proposal, calling the ruling “clear and decisive.”

Proposition HH was placed on the November ballot through a bill passed by the legislature in May. It’s meant to respond to massive increases in Coloradans’ property tax bills starting next year caused by a sharp spike in property values. e median increase in home values across the state in May when county assessors determined property values was 40% since June 2020, the last time assessors determined property values.

Here’s how it would work for residential property: e residential assessment rate would be reduced to 6.7% from 6.765% in 2023, for taxes owed in 2024, and to 6.7% from 6.976% for taxes owed in 2025. e 6.7% rate would remain unchanged through the 2032 tax year, for taxes owed in 2033.

• In addition to the assessment rate cuts, residen- tial property owners would get to exempt the rst $50,000 of their home’s value from taxation for the 2023 tax year, a $10,000 increase made through an amendment adopted Monday. Residential property owners would then get to exempt $40,000 of their homes’ values from taxation for the 2024 tax year. e break would persist until the 2032 tax year, except for people’s second or subsequent singlefamily homes, like rental or vacation properties, which would stop being subject to that bene t in the 2025 tax year.

Here’s how it works for commercial property:

• For commercial properties, the assessment rate would be reduced to 27.85% through 2026, down from 29%. e state would be required to evaluate economic conditions to determine if the rate reduction should continue. If the rate reductions persist, the commercial assessment rate would be reduced to 27.65% in 2027, 26.9% in 2029 and 25.9% starting in 2031.

• For agricultural properties and properties used for renewable energy, the assessment rate would be reduced to 26.4% from 29% through the 2032 tax year. For properties that fall under both classi cations, such as those used for agrivoltaics, the rate would be cut to 21.9%.

How are property taxes calculated?

Property taxes are determined by how much your county assessor values your property, what the state’s property assessment rate is and what your local mill-levy rate is.

A mill is a $1 payment on every $1,000 of assessed value.

Do not enter the comfort zone

She was very comfortable running 5K and 10K races, and usually placed well. She often thought about stretching herself to run a half marathon and then one day, a full marathon. As her dreams about training harder and running longer races took shape, she found herself returning to her comfortable training regime and settled once again for training to run in those 5K and 10K en one day, she decided to go for it. She made a commitment to break free from her comfort zone and train harder and run farther. She woke up earlier and each day that she ran, she pushed herself just a little bit farther until she could comfortably nish a half marathon. And after that, she left that comfort zone and began training even harder to compete in a full marathon, and last year successfully ran in the NYC Marathon.

When asked if she had plans on returning to her former routines of running in shorter races and giving up the long runs, her response was that she would never allow herself to enter the comfort zone ever again. In her mind she created an image of a “Do Not Enter” sign followed by “ e Comfort Zone.”

For many of us we have reached some type of pinnacle or achieved a sought-after goal only to nd ourselves slowly backsliding and reentering our former comfort zone. We reach a certain level of success and then allow ourselves to get comfortable there instead of wondering what we could do if we pressed ourselves a little harder, taking a new or di erent path, and maybe even taking a little risk. It’s like breaking free from one comfort zone only to enter another comfort zone.

If we are on a path of personal or professional growth, we might all do well to have that same mental image top of mind, “Do Not Enter e Comfort Zone.” Whether it’s a physical achievement we are seeking, a business breakthrough, quitting a bad habit, starting a new and positive habit, or maybe setting our sights on breaking the company sales records, once we break free from what has been holding us back, leaving our comfort zone, we need to commit to never going back or settling ever again. Here is something to watch out for, it’s called the neutral zone. It’s that place where we have decided to break free from our comfort zone but haven’t taken any action yet. Something is still holding us back. Maybe we haven’t fully committed to where it is that we want to go. Maybe we have some head trash that’s getting in our way. Whatever it is, it has us stuck in the neutral zone. How do we get unstuck? We take the rst step in the pursuit of our new goals and dreams. We don’t have to go beyond that, we are not going to go from running a 10K to running a marathon, but we are going to take the rst step and maybe run an extra half mile, and then each day slowly build to our ultimate goal.

Taking that rst step does something psychologically that gets us moving in the right direction. For some of us, we get caught up in all the rest of the steps and it paralyzes us to the point where we do not take any step at all. A comfort zone surrounded by a neutral zone creates a do-nothing zone. And as it has been said before, if we aren’t moving forward, we are more than likely moving backward. Zig Ziglar said it this way, “People who never take step one,

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

STEVE SMITH Sports Editor ssmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com can never possibly take step two.”

How about you, are there a rst step that you need to take? Is there a personal or professional goal or dream that you have had on your heart for a while? If so, have you asked yourself what is holding you back? As always, I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can break free from our comfort zone, leave the neutral zone behind, and commit to never entering that comfort zone again, it really will be a better than good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

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Brighton Standard Blade (USPS 65180)

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Brighton, Colorado, Brighton Standard Blade is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 143 S. 2nd Pl., Brighton CO 80601. .

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Property taxes in Colorado are calculated by multiplying the statewide assessment rate by the value of a property — sometimes referred to as a market value — as determined by a county assessor. at number is then multiplied by the local mill levy rate.

(A mill is a $1 payment on every $1,000 of assessed value. So in order to gure out what your tax bill is you should multiply your mill levy rate by 0.001 and then multiply that number by the product of multiplying your property’s value by the statewide assessment rate. at’s how much you owe.)

So someone who owns a home valued at $600,000 and assessed at a 6.765% statewide residential assessment rate in a place where the mill levy rate is 75 would owe $3,044.25 in taxes each year. e formula to get to that number looks like this: e proposal would also prevent many local taxing districts from increasing property taxes above the rate of in ation, though school districts would be exempt and local governments could override the cap after giving notice to property owners. e plan also calls for using about $250 million of the $2.7 billion Colorado is projected to collect in the current scal year, which ends June 30, above the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights cap on government growth and spending, to further account for local districts’ revenue reduction. e Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, is a 1992 constitutional amendment that requires voter approval for all tax increases in Colorado. It also caps government growth and spending, mandating that tax revenue collected in excess of the cap be refunded to taxpayers. e cap is calculated using in ation and population rates. e change would reduce or eliminate the amount of money available for refunds in years in which the cap is exceeded. e change could mean voters won’t get billions in refunds over the next decade.

$600,000 x 0.06765 x (75 x 0.001) = $3,044.25.

To account for the cuts, the legislature is planning to spend $200 million to repay local governments, including schools, for the additional revenue they would have collected.

What is TABOR?

Additionally, voters would be asked in November to increase the TABOR cap, which is calculated based on annual growth in population and in ation, by an extra 1%. (Any money collected over the cap has to be refunded.)

Finally, Proposition HH would set aside about $20 million each year for a state renter relief program — a late addition to the measure aimed at acknowledging the proposal mostly bene ts property owners.

If voters approve Proposition HH, that would trigger a change to how the state will distribute more than $2 billion in TABOR refunds next year. e money would be refunded through at-rate checks of roughly $650 or $1,300, depending on whether someone is a single or joint tax ler, as opposed to a system where the refund amounts are tied to which of six income tiers taxpayers fall into, with higher earners getting larger refunds and lower earners receiving less. e Colorado Sun co-owns Colorado Community Media as a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy. It is a reader-supported news organization dedicated to covering the people, places and policies that matter in Colorado. Read more, sign up for free newsletters and subscribe at coloradosun.com.

Advance Colorado, which is a dark money group, has already launched an ad campaign opposing Proposition HH. e Sun refers to political nonpro ts that don’t disclose their donors as dark money groups.

Dominguez

Leonard Dominguez

August 28, 1958 - June 9, 2023

Leonard Dominguez 64, passed away peacefully June 9th. Leonard was born to Manuel Pacheco Dominguez and Mary Reynaga on August 28th 1958. Leonard grew up in Fort Lupton, attended Fort Lupton high school and went on to learn several di erent trades.

In 1999 he married Grace Adams in New Zealand. Leonard enjoyed spending time reading the Bible and volunteering at several ministries with Mark Roggerman. Leonard also enjoyed time he spent in New Zealand with Grace, Esther and her family. Leonard is survived by one daughter Esther (22) and grandson Israel (4) and one on the way, his brother Robert (Sharon) Dominguez and many nephews and nieces. Leonard is preceded in death by his wife Grace, mom and dad Mary and Manuel Dominguez, and brothers Manuel Dominguez, Jimmy Dominguez, John Dominguez and sister Rosalie Roggerman. Services will be determined at a later date.

KILDAL Phyllis Lee (Thyfault) Kildal

February 1, 1957 - January 29, 2023 e family asks that all owers and notes be sent to Amy Frazier-Gibson at 219 Poplar Street, Lochbuie, CO 80603.

Phyllis Lee ( yfault) Kildal, age 65, passed away on January 29,2023, at her home in Mesa, Arizona, after a 14-year struggle with ovarian cancer.

A mass will be held at St. Augustine Church, 178 South 6th Avenue, Brighton, CO on Friday June 30th at 11:00 a.m., rosary at 10:30 a.m.

A Celebration of Phyllis’s life will be held at the Elks Lodge, 101 North Main Street, Brighton, CO on Friday June 30th at 1:30 p.m.

Howell

Shawn Renne (Hagens) Howell

May 24, 1969 - May 16, 2023

Shawn was born in Denver, Colorado to Clearance & Mine Havens . She married Her best Friend ,David Howell III.

She worked in Denver , CO working as Vice President Of Operations at

EHLER

Westerra Credit Union. She Loved spending days with her son & puppy buddy Shawn is survived by her son, David Howell. She is preceded in death by b her sister, Donna Atkinson.

Helen “Gayle” Ehler

September 3, 1934 - June 5, 2023

Helen “Gayle” Ehler was born on September 3, 1934, to Homer & Chessie Callaway as the youngest of three children, after Charles & Carolyn. She grew up in Marlow, OK, graduated from Marlow High School, then attended the Oklahoma College for Women for one year. She transferred to Oklahoma University, where she joined the Delta Gamma Sorority & graduated with a BA in Education in 1957. Her rst teaching position was at Brighton High School in Brighton, CO, where she met John Ehler, a local wheat farmer & cattle rancher. ey married on July 5, 1958. Gayle continued to teach, while John farmed, until the birth of their son Alan, & later daughter Deborah. In that season, she provided bookkeeping for Ehler Farms, served on the Brighton School Board, sang in the choir, taught classes, & served as a deacon at First United Presbyterian Church. e couple also discovered their passion for world traveling & saw many places during their 63 years of marriage. Gayle returned to teaching junior high English in the late 1970’s, then students in the Adams County juvenile delinquency system for a decade. John & Gayle sold the farm in 1999, and moved to Wenatchee, WA, to be closer to their children & grandchildren. Beginning in 2003, the couple wintered in Palm Desert, CA, but in 2018, the couple moved to Lake Las Vegas, NV. She passed into the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, June 4, 2023, while still in their home with the Love of her Life. Gayle always freely share her Faith, wit & beautiful smile. She is survived by her husband, John Ehler; children: Alan Ehler & Deborah Strahm; beloved children-in-law: Keira Ehler & Todd Strahm; grandchildren: Hannah & Stephen Ehler, Luke & Jake Strahm. A Graveside Service will be held on July 5, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., Elmwood Cemetery in Brighton, CO. RSVP Reception Following - share memories - deborahstrahm@yahoo.com.

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The brain is overrated, according to Kadam Lucy James at the Kadampa Meditation Center.

“Have you ever felt peaceful in your head?” she asked.

She put her hands over her heart and said that’s where the mind is, adding that while the brain has conceptual reality, the mind exists in the heart, where we feel peace, love, joy and wisdom.

“If we can get into our heart, we automatically start to feel more peaceful,” she said.

James is temporarily living in Arvada and teaches meditation at the Kadampa Meditation Center. She started practicing about 41 years ago after she saw a “very peaceful person” in college.

“He was a student meditating on the end of his bed and I asked him what he was doing, because this was back in 1981, and meditation, no one had heard of back then,” she said.

Ever since, she’s been practicing and has taught all around the world, including England, San Francisco, New York City and now Denver. She hopes to one day achieve enlightenment, or in nite happiness and peace.

It takes a lot of hard work, but she said it’s the only thing where the more she does it, the happier she is.

It’s because, with meditation, the mind becomes naturally peaceful. Each person has a natural source of peace and happiness inside them, she said, and instead of seeking it elsewhere — relationships, ful lling jobs or material things — it’s already inside the body waiting to be found. e evidence lies in the random moments of peace and happiness everyone feels. It could be a torrential downpour and the mind is peaceful, settled and calm. e rst step to unlocking that potential and happiness is to breathe.

“What those moments show is that our mind is ne. And then what unsettles the mind is actually all our uncontrolled thinking,” she said.

Coming from the teachings of the Buddha, she compared the mind to a vast ocean. e waves are turbulent while below them is a vast, in nite, calm place. Waves of anxiety and negative emotions distort the brain but below those waves rests an incredible sanity.

“When our mind is settled, when we can let go of our troubled thoughts, and our turbulent thoughts, uncontrolled thoughts, then we naturally feel good. We naturally feel peaceful and we start to get a sense of our potential and who we really are, which is this person who has limitless potential, limitless happiness,” James said.

Focus on the nostrils

Carol O’Dowd, a Trauma and Transition Psychotherapist and Spiritual Counselor assists her clients by meeting them where they are and o ering them acceptance through breathing.

“If you focus on your breath, you cannot simultaneously focus on all your internal dialogue. It cannot be done. e human brain is not wired that way,” O’Dowd said.

It creates a space between the thoughts. e stress and anxiety stored in the body don’t go away, but the practice of noticing the emotions and putting them on pause to breathe helps calm the body down.

Breathing is a function of the body that automatically happens all the time. Focusing on that breath, O’Dowd compared it to a spectrum. What happens when the body stops breathing — death — is one end and the other is when the body pays attention to the breath — peace.

“It can be as simple as just experiencing that ow of air, and in and out of your nostrils. If you can place your attention there, that’s giving yourself a mini vacation,” she said.

O’Dowd encourages her clients to practice treating uncontrolled thoughts like a salesperson trying to sell them. Instead of buying, make them sit in the corner and return to them in 20 minutes after taking time to check in with the body.

It can also let go of stress. Pain, like what the ngers feel after working at a computer all day, can be a physical manifestation of stress. Holding on to that stress can lead to other health conditions.

“It’s not rocket science,” she said.

Escape to reality

James said achieving enlightenment is extremely di cult, and while the teachings she studied laid out di erent steps and pathways, she simpli ed it down to three. e rst is focusing on the breath to relax. e second is identifying delusions.

A delusion can be jealousy, greed, competitiveness or other unpleasant thoughts. Most of the time, those thoughts aren’t controlled by the mind and enter the brain randomly. It’s the root