Highlands Ranch Metro District talks property valuations

Guest Column

Stephanie Stanley e Metro District Board of Directors has been and continues to be committed to wise use of our resources. e current voter approved mill levy is 12.750, but the imposed mill levy set by the Metro District Board, is 11.205. is lower rate reduces the amount a homeowner pays to the Metro District by 12%. e Metro District Board authorized the reduced mill levy, as responsible government, to collect only what is needed for provision of programs and services, and to maintain infrastructure. e Metro District acknowledges the concerns of property taxpayers. e recent property valuation notices con rming unprecedented increases of 40 to 50% in our community is of great concern to all. e Metro District Board has been working in good faith with our community partners and with state-level policymakers on solutions. e Metro District Board is committed to providing local government at a reasonable cost and helping to educate its residents on the impacts of potential changes in property tax legislation. For more information on this topic, I encourage you to visit www.highlandsranch.org, or contact me at sstanley@highlandsranch.org. third of all RMB reserves.

Wh at is the price of government? A well-run local government focuses on spending its resources on results for citizens rather than cutting or adding to last year’s budget. It advocates partnership, competition, customer choice, and a relentless drive to save its residents money while improving public services. In 2017, the Highlands Ranch Metro District implemented a priority-based budget system to establish result statements that guide decision making and prioritize the community’s needs.

With the recent passing of SB23-303, titled Reduce Property Taxes and Voter-approved Revenue Change, it places a measure on the November ballot for voters to consider. While this measure may provide some property tax relief to its residents, there are many potential impacts that could negatively impact taxpayers, residents, and the ability of local governments to provide services.

Highlands Ranch Metro District General Manager Stephanie Stanley is well versed in property tax and government nance issues. Prior to her current position, she served for 16 years in nance roles for both the Highlands Ranch Metro District and Centennial Water & Sanitation District, which serves Highlands Ranch.

Founded in 1981 as the local government in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, the Metro District provides a variety of municipal services to this planned community of 103,000 people. Learn more about the Metro District at highlandsranch.org.

• U.S. sanctions remain on many countries, most notably the freezing of Russian assets after the Ukraine invasion.

• Commodities such as oil are priced and traded in dollars worldwide.

• More foreign currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar than any other currency including China’s. China is also our largest trading partner with foreign trades pegged to the dollar.

Investment Strategist Brett Lapierre, CFA states, “I see some weakness in the USD over the next few years as it is fundamentally overvalued. is, combined with stronger economic growth outside of the U.S., higher

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Given these facts, the U.S. dollar is alive and well and remains the stronghold currency worldwide. is could change over time as we see improved economic growth in other countries, and as we incorporate more foreign trade.

In our opinion, it is important to make sure your investment portfolio is diversi ed based on your risk tolerance to include investments that can potentially bene t from these economic conditions.

Patricia Kummer has been a Certied Financial Planner professional and a duciary for over 35 years and is managing director for Mariner Wealth Advisors.

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BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On most Tuesdays and ursdays and some Saturdays, a team of bikers meets to explore Colorado’s network of trails.

e group connects at a co ee shop in downtown Denver. When the weather isn’t too hot, it’s after work around 4 or 5 p.m. In the dead of summer, it’s usually in the morning.

ey sip on espresso and decide where they want to ride that day. It could be on the bike lanes of Denver, the 36 Bikeway to Boulder, the Platte River Trail to Brighton or other suburbs. Most of the time, it involves a stop along the way.

“We would go down the Platte River Trail to the C 470 trail and then Krispy Kremes along there. We call it the Krispy 50. It’s a 50-mile loop,” said Ted Schultz, one of the riders in the group.

e group started after Schultz and two colleagues in his o ce space decided to start riding together after work. Schultz rode with a few others and combined the two groups.

After the ride, they go to a brewery to catch up with one another and relax after the ride.

Colorado’s network of trails

Part of the reason the group exists is due to Colorado’s extensive bike trail infrastructure. Schultz said it’s only improved in the past two decades.

“When you add up the miles of really good trails, it’s just mind-boggling,” he said.

Schultz, who grew up in Colorado, said understanding for cyclists sharing the road and building more infrastructure has vastly grown. In the 70s and 80s, he could almost count on angry driver backlash during his rides. Now, not so much. e Denver Regional Council of Governments built a map that shows all the trails and bike lanes across the region. ey stretch all the way from Boulder to Clear Creek to Castle Rock.

Much of that may be due to more focus on improving trails and streets.

And more may be coming. e Greenhouse Gas Planning Standard, a new rule adopted by the Transportation Commission of Colorado in December 2021, requires agencies to measure greenhouse gas emissions from transit projects, with limits on how high those emissions go.