Editor’s Note. The following is a guest editorial, authored by Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams and Summit County Commissioner Tamara Pogue.
It focuses on two proposed ballot initiatives dealing with what some have classified as drastic ways to reduce the high property tax increases Colorado residents have confronted. These plans are drastically different from a bipartisan measure approved by state lawmakers in the most recent session, which addressed this complex issue. This latter bipartisan approach was supported by both Williams and Pogue and by many county commissioners. Many elected leaders, though, are against the newly proposed property tax-related ballot initiatives.
~By Dan Williams and Tamara Pogue~
As county commissioners, we are deeply invested in the welfare of our communities and are sensitive to the affordability crisis exacerbated by the recent increase in property values, which has led to higher property tax bills for virtually every resident of Colorado.
While we’re from opposite sides of the aisle, and from very different parts of the state, we are united in the belief that property tax relief needs to be balanced not only with the pressures on our family budgets, but with the cost of vital community services we all count on. That’s why local control is so vital.
That’s also why we both oppose Initiatives 50 and 108. Rather than solve problems, they create a mess of our state’s property tax system. They create unnecessary confusion and competition between local governments across the state. They pose a grave threat to the very foundation of critical, county-provided services by proposing a drastic reduction in funding. These measures, if passed, will have far-reaching and detrimental effects on the ability of county governments to serve their residents. This includes critical services like law enforcement, fire protection, EMS, and transportation.
Initiative 50 proposes a cap on revenue growth for over 4,600 local governments, limiting their combined growth to 4% per year. This one-size-fits-all approach ignores the diverse needs and circumstances of individual communities. It allows areas with rapid growth, like the Denver Metro, to dominate the allocation of funds, thereby stifling the ability of smaller or slower-growing communities to invest in their unique priorities. The Denver Metro Area shouldn’t get to dictate the needs of local communities across the state.
Initiative 108 takes a different but equally harmful route by drastically reducing statewide assessment rates, slashing $3 billion from the budgets of counties, schools, fire districts, and other local governments. This cut is not only unprecedented but also fiscally irresponsible, as it mandates the state’s general fund to compensate for the shortfall. This backfill requirement would necessitate an 18% cut to state services, a reduction even more severe than those seen during the Great Recession. Such sweeping cuts would cripple essential services across the board, including early childhood centers, healthcare providers, and schools.
Proponents of Initiatives 50 and 108 argue that these measures will address the spike in property taxes experienced in recent years. However, their simplistic approach overlooks the complex and interconnected nature of local government funding. In the last year, our state legislature has cut a billion dollars per year in local property tax revenue across the state through reduced assessment rates, value exemptions, and local caps. 92 out of 100 legislators voted for this carefully negotiated compromise that involved county commissioners, fire chiefs, and other stakeholders.
At the local level, we’ve supported responsible property tax reductions in our communities. We have adjusted our budgets as the legislature has decreased assessment rates three times. We are already working to provide property tax relief without damaging the essential services we provide.
Here’s what’s at stake if these ballot initiatives are passed:
During wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters, it is county-managed services that stand on the front lines, protecting lives and property. Our firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement officers rely on stable funding to respond swiftly and efficiently to emergencies. Initiatives 50 and 108 threaten to undermine this vital safety net by slashing the property tax revenues that fund these services. This drastic reduction in funding will inevitably lead to longer response times, fewer resources, and potentially devastating consequences.
Another crucial component of county government responsibilities is ensuring that our residents have safe and reliable access to work, education, and healthcare. County governments maintain roads, bridges, and public transit systems that connect our communities and stimulate economic growth. Initiatives 50 and 108 jeopardize the sustainability of these transportation networks by imposing severe cuts to the budgets that support them. Without adequate funding, infrastructure will deteriorate, maintenance will be deferred, and our communities will face increased congestion and decreased mobility.
We urge the groups behind Initiatives 50 and 108 to reconsider and withdraw these measures. We also call upon voters to critically assess the potential impacts of these proposals on our communities. Local community funding needs should be decided by local community leaders who hear directly from their neighbors.
Colorado’s strength lies in its ability to work together to find practical solutions that protect our essential services while addressing the affordability challenges we face. By rejecting Initiatives 50 and 108, we can ensure that our county governments remain capable of providing services that are vital to our safety, connectivity, and overall quality of life.
