A look at property taxes supporting South Suburban

Increases, costs examined

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On May 2, South Suburban Parks and Recreation district residents will elect two board members to the district’s ve-member board of directors.

As part of its responsibilities in governing the district, the board sets the annual budget, which includes setting mill levies.

South Suburban, which formed in 1959, is a regional provider of parks and recreation services.

irty-nine percent of the district’s funding comes from property taxes, communications manager Becky Grubb wrote in an email to Colorado Community Media.

Property taxes are used to fund capital projects, administration costs, operations and maintenance for parks, trails and open spaces and to subsidize non-fee-based programming, Grubb wrote.

How much do you pay South Suburban?

South Suburban residents currently pay about $8.43 in tax to the district per $1,000 of assessed property value, according to the district’s 2023 budget. is number has increased by a few cents over recent years, with taxpayers paying about $8.37 in 2020, $8.39 in 2021 and $8.40 in 2022. ese adjustments can be made to help o set revenue losses resulting from state-mandated property tax assessment rate reductions, as previously reported by CCM. e district’s mill levies are set through a process that begins in July each year and includes three to six public study sessions, as well as three public hearings at the district’s

In November 2019, voters approved Ballot Issue 7A, which authorized the district to adjust its mill levy rate up or down beginning in 2021 and annually thereafter without voter approval.

Colorado’s residential property tax assessment rate fell to 6.95% from 7.15% in 2021 for property other than muti-family residential property, according to the Colorado General Assembly’s website. e Gallagher Amendment adjusts residential property tax rates downward over time.

Grubb wrote that the higher mill levies do not mean the district is increasing its revenue – instead, the adjusted rates are to prevent a reduction in revenue from previous years. She said recent mill levy increases have been due to the increase in abatements from the counties.

board meetings, Grubb wrote.

Financial transparency and responsibility

At an April 12 forum, candidate Elizabeth Watson said nancial transparency would be one of her main goals if elected.

“I am asking for your vote so that I can be transparent with our information, which includes putting nancial information on the back page of the catalogs,” she said.

“ ere is absolutely no reason that South Suburban in-district people should be guessing at how much they paid in taxes. ey should absolutely know.”

Recent annual tax rate information can be found at https:// go.boarddocs.com/co/ssprd/Board. nsf/vpublic?open and some older tax rate information is available at https://www.ssprd.org/ReportsAudits-Budgets. were heard or heard loud enough to have an impact,” Barrere said. “If I am elected to the board, I will make sure that decisions like this are made in consideration of public opinion and with consideration of the aesthetics and the feel that it brings.”

Candidate John Priddy also mentioned nancial transparency in his Q&A for CCM.

“Without a doubt, there are improvements we can make to engage a broader electorate about the elections, taxes and the business of the SSPRD district,” Priddy wrote.

In their Q&As, other candidates, including Michael Edwards, Alexis Barrere and Pam Eller mentioned reponsible tax dollar investment and being good stewards of taxpayers’ money.

All ballots for the board of directors election must be cast by 7 p.m. on May 2, either through mail, a drop-o box or in-person.

“I do think they completely missed an opportunity to build something that Littleton could be proud of, and it could be a community space,” Watson said. “Littleton deserves to be respected and listened to and have their community supported in an equal way to all in-district members.”

Several candidates pitched some ideas for improving the building.

“I guess what I see is hopefully a blank canvas, and some creative artists can hopefully bring something to that particular design,” Edwards said. “I was wondering about something historic, or if you can incorporate something that does bring in that Littleton, and as you look out at it, you’re not seeing just a steel building out there.”

“In terms of where do we go from here? Do we plant big trees? What do we do?” Priddy said. “ at’s the question but there’s a lesson in this for us, right? Which is making sure that when these opportunities come up, grab the table, making sure that the opinion of the community and the character of the town is taken into account.”

Hudson Gardens

To set up the third question, Long said South Suburban recently announced that concerts and other events would not take place at Hudson Gardens in 2023. Long said South Suburban is analyzing business operations and creating a strategic plan to identify opportunities for the venue and patrons.

“In your own words, what would you expect the strategic plan to address and what events do you see will continue, be pursued and/or be discontinued?”

Watson said the strategic plan for Hudson Gardens is a great opportunity for community involvement. She said it isn’t about what she thinks is important, but what the community values there.

“( e nancial aspect) should be a consideration,” she said. “But an also equally important consideration should be what the community wants, what events are important, what events encourage our kids to get out and engage with nature… Involve the community in the creation of this plan. It is vital.”

Priddy agreed that both nances and community opinion should be considered in the formulation of the plan.

“Having had the experience of creating a number of strategic plans in my career, I think without a doubt, how the events and activities that were held in that facility… perform is a critical component of it,” he said. “It is my expectation that this plan will be inclusive of consideration of the value, not just scal value but other community value that’s brought as it relates to all of the activities and events.”

Barrere said she would love to see the venue collaborate more with businesses in downtown Littleton.

“I’m looking at ways to partner for programs, you know, picnic baskets that you can pick up at one of the restaurants in downtown Littleton to bring to a concert or things like that, opportunities to drive the economy,” she said.

She said she would also like South Suburban to have a plan for stewardship of the historical components of Hudson Gardens.

Edwards said he thought early community input was the most important part of a new strategic plan for the gardens.

“Looking at the bene ts, or the nancial aspects of these di erent events, how popular were they?” he said. “How important are they to the community, but also from a nancial standpoint, how well are they supported? Can they be improved?”

Closing statements

In his closing statement, Edwards said his interpersonal abilities, especially his ability to receive criticism, would make him a great board member.

“I think one of the most important things that I can bring to this to this seat is the ability to talk to people and listen,” he said.

Priddy noted the diversity of the district and thanked South Suburban’s sta for the work they do.

“My intent is to bring my vast nonpro t leadership and business experience to aid the current board and the leadership of the institution as it sets, so we can make progress and move forward into the future,” he said.

Barrere said her experience as a nurse practitioner and a Littleton resident gives her a unique perspective.

“I will bring a diverse voice,” she said. “I have a background in healthcare and working with youth and families… I would bring the voice of Littleton to the board which I think is important as the district kind of shifts its focus from this northwest corner of the district more towards the southeast corner.”

Eller, whose statement was read by Ostermiller, focused on her experience as a South Suburban board member from 2010 to 2018.

“I possess invaluable current and historical knowledge, leadership and relationship with South Suburbans many municipal and other partners,” Ostermiller read. “ ose endorsing me consistently mention my work ethic, integrity, availability to residents and my ability to listen, study and seek opinions.”

Watson, who ran for the board last year, is running again because she feels strongly that there could be improvement in communication with the South Suburban community.

“I’m running for the board of directors because I believe in transparency and in district representation,” she said. “One person that has this vision of being inclusive and providing important information to our district can make a di erence.”

More information on the candidates running for board can be found on Colorado Community Media’s website in their candidate pro les.

Absentee ballot applications are due by April 25 and votes must be cast, either absentee or in person, by 7 p.m. on May 2.