TAXES

Perfect storm e assessor doesn’t set the tax rate but determines the value of the property that the tax rate then gets applied to. Local government entities like counties and school districts set the tax rates. Property tax rates are o cially called “mill levies.”

County assessors’ o ces are tasked with establishing accurate values of homes and other properties to determine how much property owners will owe government entities in taxes — a process meant to ensure that the amount of taxes people pay is fair and equitable.

Counties are required by Colorado law to revalue properties every two years, according to Sakdol.

Another culprit of this year’s perfect tax storm: e recent repeal of the Gallagher Amendment, a former part of the state constitution.

Colorado voters in 2020 repealed the Gallagher Amendment, a policy that prevented residential property tax bills from getting too big. But when combined with the e ect of the Colorado Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, it strangled local government budgets, e Colorado Sun reported.

(Along with the property value and the property tax rate, a number called the “assessment rate” is another factor that helps determine how much in property duly reported, followed by the third place candidate taking the oath of o ce administered by an elected or judicial o cer before the start of the next board meeting.

Following Nelson, newly elected board member Robert Kennah agreed that it is fair that the residents have a vote now that the boundaries have been xed and these residents will be getting taxed.

“It was said that these folks weren’t on the — didn’t have record of them, so now they’re going to be taxed di erently now that this has been recognized and the boundaries have been xed,” said Kennah. “If they’re going to be taxed it’s fair and right that they have a vote and a say and to me, it just doesn’t feel right to have this x - which it needs to be, it’s important - and then turn around and tax them without being able to have a voice on who they want to vote for on the board.” taxes a person owes. With the Gallagher Amendment gone, the state legislature sets the assessment rate.) e rub with the Gallagher Amendment was that for rural counties, where property values haven’t gone up as much as they have been on the Front Range, the property tax equation meant rural government entities faced reduced revenue that a ected their services — a problem Sakdol acknowledged.

Kennah made a motion to adopt the proposed outline presented by Nelson in its entirety.

If Colorado voters had not gotten rid of the Gallagher Amendment, the tax landscape this year would be much di erent, Sakdol said.

“We wouldn’t be in a panic of our property taxes going up substantially because the assessment (rate) would fall much lower, which would keep our property taxes somewhat in check to previous years,” Sakdol said.

One proposal that has popped up in the past: having di erent assessment rates for di erent regions of Colorado.

“So you’d have the Gallagher Amendment (policy) … they would run the same numbers as Gallagher requires,” but the assessment rate might be higher in Sterling as opposed to Denver, Sakdol said.

How Colorado compares

Although homeowners are concerned in Colorado about a hike in property tax bills, Colorado is “on the low side of property taxes throughout the United States,” Sakdol noted.

Nationally, Colorado has relatively low residential property taxes, according to an analysis by the conservative Tax Foundation. Colorado ranked 47th in property taxes paid as a percentage of owner-occupied housing value in 2020, according to the foundation.

Board Secretary Brooke Booth seconded the motion, saying she feels the need to protect the citizens.

Vice President Bill Wasserman said the missing ballots were not done maliciously and District Manager Ron Redd and his team did reasonable actions when the issue became apparent.

“Kory has now led a lawsuit from what I understand in this and so it’s now in the hands of the court and not necessarily in our hands,” said Wasserman.

President Merlin Klotz said he understands the frustration of the residents who did not receive a ballot. He also said as a former clerk and reporter, every election, there are people who do not receive a ballot for whatever reason and there is a responsibility on the voters to say they did not receive one.

As the Parker Water and Sanitation District is a special district, Je Parker, the district’s general counsel, spoke about the election laws governing how to address election issues such as this one.

“But now that we have removed the Gallagher Amendment, I think we’re going to see that come up. I don’t think we’re going to be in that lower category anymore,” Sakdol said.

“It’ll probably be another year or two before we see” where Colorado falls in

“ ere are requirements for when elections start and when elections end and so Parker Water has no inherent authority to basically veer from election laws,” said Parker. “ is is not a process that is permitted under the statutes.”

According to Parker, he is not supporting any particular candidate or outcome but the district needs to follow the law.

“ ere is a process for contesting an election and there are legal standards set forth from the statutes and frankly the process is being followed by Mr. Nelson by having led his petition with the district court,” said Parker. “My legal advice is that, that’s the process to follow and that this is not a process that is basically set forth in Colorado law for a district election.” a national ranking on property taxes taking into account the Gallagher repeal, Sakdol said.

Board members Kennah and Booth voted in favor of the measure while Klotz, Wasserman and Don Langley voted against it..

A judge has yet to o cially rule on Nelson’s challenge to the election results.

And while businesses pay more, their taxes still appear to be lower than the national average, according to e Colorado Sun. Colorado had the 17th best “State Business Tax Climate” for 2020, according to the Tax Foundation. Colorado had the 14th best “property tax rank” for businesses in 2020, according to the foundation.