Your Board of Douglas County Commissioners knows property taxes have been top of mind for you this year. It is for them, too.
That’s why they unanimously approved a resolution to oppose Proposition HH during a regular business meeting Tuesday, Oct. 24. The Board wants you to know Proposition HH – which is on November’s ballot – is not the fix you seek.
“Any way you slice it, Proposition HH does not prevent residential property owners in Douglas County from experiencing the largest property tax increase in state history,” said Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon, Board Chair. “Additionally, it’s confusing and misleading to voters. The ballot title and language violate single-subject and clear title requirements.”
“Proposition HH will not bring property tax relief. It is a bait-and-switch effort to get your TABOR refunds into state coffers without a sunset,” said Douglas County Commissioner George Teal, Board Vice Chair. “Proponents are using the current tax crisis in Colorado to manipulate voters into supporting this measure, which provides little relief and bypasses limits on government spending prescribed in the State Constitution.”
“Proposition HH is government at its worst,” said Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas. “It was foisted upon us at the 11th hour of the legislative session without input from the local governments and people it directly affects. It fails to fix the enormous property tax hikes resulting from the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment yet confiscates taxpayers’ last remaining bit of tax relief – their TABOR refund.”
Read the full resolution online.
In addition to opposing Proposition HH, the Douglas County Commissioners have taken several steps to help reduce the property tax burden in Douglas County:
- Approved Assessor Toby Damisch’s recommendation for a 4% reduction in assessments for single-family residential properties.
- Committed to a mill levy reduction for unincorporated Douglas County.
- Hosted a Taxing Authorities Summit to engage a discussion among all authorities that levy taxes in Douglas County to mitigate the rise in property taxes.
- Hosted several live town hall meetings with Assessor Damisch to explain the appeals process. Watch recordings of those and other informational videos on the County’s Property Taxes playlist on YouTube.