Battling property tax bills could be settled at ballot

Governor wants fix as competing nonprofits o er their solutions

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

e Colorado legislature’s inaction so far this year on a long-term x e ort to address rising property tax bills has prompted two scal policy nonpro ts — one conservative and the other liberal — to propose competing ballot measures that would dramatically reshape the state’s nancial picture.

e policy battle is a repeat of what happened at the Colorado Capitol last year, when the same groups, neither of which have to disclose their donors, initiated property tax ballot measures when the General Assembly was slow to act. ey backed down only when lawmakers passed a Band-Aid bill giving property owners two years of temporary tax relief.

Property tax revenue funds schools and local governments, meaning that any discussion about how they should change carries extremely high stakes. e stakes have only increased since Colorado voters in 2020 repealed the Gallagher Amendment, which prevented residential property tax bills from getting too big but, when combined with the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, strangled local government budgets.

Rising property values across Colorado after the COVID-19 pandemic began have caused property tax bills to jump, too. Coloradans will get new property assessments from their counties starting May 1. Colorado’s property taxes are among the nation’s lowest. But a big increase in property tax bills will really a ect people with xed incomes, such as retirees, who bought their homes when they were worth much less and weren’t expecting such a large nancial burden.

Gov. Jared Polis and Democrats, who control the Capitol, say they are committed to coming up with a long-term x this year. But the legislative session is more than halfway over — the General Assembly adjourns May 8 — and no proposals have been made public.

e governor and lawmakers have committed to expanding an existing property tax relief plan in the 2023 and 2024 tax years to $900 million, $200 million more than what was approved during the 2022 legislative session in a deal that got the nonpro ts to abandon their ballot measures.

“Conversations are obviously ongoing,” Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, told reporters. “I know there’s conversations happening with advocates, with connected districts, with businesses etc.”

In the absence of state lawmakers doing something, however, independent groups have stepped in to try to ll the vacuum — and also pressure the General Assembly to get moving.

Advance Colorado, the conservative scal nonpro t, entered the property tax conversation rst this year with Initiative 21, which would be on the November statewide ballot. It would amend the state constitution to cap property tax increases at 3% per property and set aside up to $100 million in state TABOR surplus each year for re districts.

TABOR caps government growth and spending each year based on population increases and the rate of in ation. Any money collected above the cap must be refunded to taxpayers unless voters say otherwise.

Michael Fields, who leads Advance Colorado, said the measure is an insurance policy against legislative inaction this year. “I think we’re wanting to see what the legislature comes up with,” Fields said. “But given that we can’t go back in time, we wanted to get it led and get it through the process.” e Bell Policy Center, the liberalleaning scal nonpro t, responded last week by ling eight proposed 2023 ballot measures for review by the state’s Title Board. If they are approved, Bell Policy Center can begin collecting signatures to have them placed on the fall ballot. e measures, submitted in partnership with the Colorado Education Association, the state’s largest teacher union, would reduce or cap property tax increases and/or use TABOR surplus to replace the revenue lost by school, re district and local water project budgets.

Scott Wasserman, who leads the Bell Policy Center, says the measures are intended to neutralize Initiative 21 from Advance Colorado and also serve as a hedge against legislative inaction on property tax policy this year.

“It is clear from the initiatives already led by those who seek to destroy Colorado’s revenue base that these interests want to undercut the legislature’s ability to address the uneven e ects of a property tax

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(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF THE NORTHEAST1/4, SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP4 SOUTH, RANGE 72 WEST OF THE6TH P.M., COUNTY OF CLEAR CREEK, STATE OF COLORADO

Also known by street and number as: HIDDEN WILDERNESS ROAD, IDAHO SPRINGS, CO 80452.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

Idaho Springs City of 2023 Drinking Water Quality Report

Covering Data For Calendar Year 2022

Public Water System ID: CO0110020

Esta es información importante. Si no la pueden leer, necesitan que alguien se la traduzca.

We are pleased to present to you this year’s water quality report. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. Please contact ANDREW MARSH at 303-567-4421 with any questions or for public participation opportunities that may affect water quality

General Information

All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1800-426-4791) or by visiting epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV-AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk of infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, or to receive a copy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and microbiological contaminants call the EPA

Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (1-800-426-4791).

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

•Microbial contaminants: viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

•Inorganic contaminants: salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

Pesticides and herbicides: may come from a variety of sources, such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.

•Radioactive contaminants: can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

•Organic chemical contaminants: including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and also may come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment prescribes regulations limiting the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.

Lead in Drinking Water

Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials andcomponentsassociated with service lines and home plumbing. We are responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbingcomponentsin your home.

You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family’s risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact ANDREW MARSH at 303-567-4421. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at epa.gov/safewater/ lead

Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP)

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment may have provided us with a Source Water Assessment Report for our water supply. For general information or to obtain a copy of the report please visit wqcdcompliance.com/ccr. The report is located under “Guidance: Source Water Assessment Reports”. Search the table using our system name or ID, or by contacting g 110020, IDAHO SPRINGS CITY OF, or by contacting ANDREW MARSH at 303-567-4421 The Source Water Assessment Report provides a screening-level evaluation of potential contamination that could occur. It does not mean that the contamination has or will occur. We can use this information to evaluate the need to improve our current water treatment capabilities and prepare for future contamination threats. This can help us ensure that quality finished water is delivered to your homes. In addition, the source water assessment results provide a starting point for developing a source water protection plan. Potential sources of contamination in our source water area are listed on the next page.

Please contact us to learn more about what you can do to help protect your drinking water sources, any questions about the Drinking Water Quality Report, to learn more about our system, or to attend scheduled public meetings. We want you, our valued customers, to be informed about the services we provide and the quality water we deliver to you every day.

Our Water Sources

Sources (Water Type - Source Type)

DEVILS CANYON (Surface Water-Intake)

CHICAGO CREEK INTAKE (Surface Water-Intake)

Potential Source(s) of Contamination

EPA Superfund Sites, EPA Hazardous Waste Generators, EPA Chemical Inventory/ Storage Sites, Aboveground, Underground and Leaking Storage Tank Sites, Solid Waste Sites, Existing/Abandoned Mine Sites, Other Facilities, Commercial/Industrial/ Transportation, Low Intensity Residential, Deciduous Forest, Evergreen Forest, Mixed Forest, Septic Systems, Road Miles

Terms and Abbreviations

• Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) − The highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.

• Treatment Technique (TT) − A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

• Health-Based − A violation of either a MCL or TT.

• Non-Health-Based − A violation that is not a MCL or TT.

• Action Level (AL) − The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment and other regulatory requirements.

• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) − The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) − The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) − The level of a drinking water disinfectant, below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

• Violation (No Abbreviation) − Failure to meet a Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulation.

• Formal Enforcement Action (No Abbreviation) − Escalated action taken by the State (due to the risk to public health, or number or severity of violations) to bring a non-compliant water system back into compliance.

• Variance and Exemptions (V/E) − Department permission not to meet a MCL or treatment technique under certain conditions.

• Gross Alpha (No Abbreviation) − Gross alpha particle activity compliance value. It includes radium-226, but excludes radon 222, and uranium.

• Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) − Measure of the radioactivity in water.

• Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) − Measure of the clarity or cloudiness of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the typical person. • Compliance Value (No Abbreviation) – Single or calculated value used to determine if regulatory contaminant level (e.g. MCL) is met. Examples of calculated values are the 90th

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, 06/08/2023, at The Clear Creek County Public Trustee’s Office, 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, Colorado, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication4/13/2023

Last Publication5/11/2023 Name of PublicationThe Clear Creek Courant IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 02/07/2023

Carol Lee, Public Trustee in and for the County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Randall M. Chin, Esq. #31149 Barrett Frappier & Weisserman, LLP 1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80204 (303) 350-3711

Attorney File # 00000009704198

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 2023-005

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On February 7, 2023, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Clear Creek records. Original Grantor(s) James M. Houston and Elizabeth M. Houston Original Beneficiary(ies) Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for GMAC Mortgage Corporation Current Holder of Evidence of Debt West Coast Servicing Inc. Date of Deed of Trust July 25, 2002 County of Recording Clear Creek Recording Date of Deed of Trust August 05, 2002

Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.) 214536 Book: 645Page: 917 Original Principal Amount $100,000.00

Outstanding Principal Balance $32,477.99

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION

A parcel of land located in the Southwest 1/4 of the Northwest 1/4 of Section 24, Township 4 South, Range 72 West of the 6th P.M., County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado, described as follows:

Beginning at a point on the North line of said SW 1/4 NW 1/4, whence the Northwest corner of said SW 1/4 NW 1/4 bears South 84 Degrees 02 Minutes 47 Seconds West, 457.95 feet; thence North 84 Degrees 02 Minutes 47 Seconds East, along said North line, 358.00 feet; thence South 00 Degrees 30 Mminutes 09 Seconds East, 642.00 feet; thence South 19 Degrees 40 Minutes 37 Seconds West, 436.42 feet, to the Northeasterly right of way of Old Squaw Pass Road; thence Northwesterly along said right of way, along the arc of a curve to the left, having a radius of 163.47 feet and a central angle of 49 Degrees 51 Minutes 00 Seconds, 122.25 feet; thence North 71 Degrees 51 Minutes 58 Seconds West, 30.94 feet, to a point of curvature; thence along the arc of a curve to the right, having a radius of 491.66 feet and a central angle of 10 Degrees 56 Minutes 30 Seconds, 93.89 feet; thence North 60 Degrees 55 Minutes 28 Seconds West, 56.00 feet, to a point of curvature; thence along the arc of a curve to the left, having a radius of 212.81 feet and a central angle of 24 Degrees 22 Minutes 30 Seconds, 90.53 feet, to a point of curvature; thence along the arc of a curve to the left, having a radius of 191.74 feet and a central angle