HomeMy WebLinkAbout980948.tiff . h 414I ;14; OFFICE OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PHONE (970) 356-4000, EXT. 4200
IlDFAX: (970) 352-0242
915 10TH STREET
P.O. BOX 758
C. GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
COLORADO
May 19, 1998
Walter H. Stewart
2636 14th Avenue Court
Greeley CO 80631
Dear Mr. Stewart:
In response to your May 5 letter, the Board of Weld County Commissioners
appreciates your input and concerns. Regarding taxation and Johnson County,
Kansas, I would like to offer the following information.
We too would like to lower property taxes whenever we can. Historically, since the
passage of the home rule charter, Weld County government has operated under the
most restrictive property tax limitation in the state. The charter limits the county portion
of your tax bill to no more than a 5% increase over the preceding year. This applies to
the county's portion of your tax bill only, or roughly 20% of your property tax bill. It
does not apply to schools, special districts, municipalities, etc.
As you are aware, the assessed value of Weld County is made up of many
components besides residential property such as commercial, agricultural, industrial,
utilities, and oil and gas production. In addition to this, residential property assessment
is limited by the Gallagher Amendment to be no more than approximately 45% of all
property taxes in the state. As a result, the residential assessed value ratio has
dropped from 29% to 9.74% of actual value in the last two decades. So even though
actual property values go up on residential property, the net assessed value to
calculate the mill levy goes down. This is much different from Kansas.
Another major factor impacting property tax calculation in Weld County is the
substantial amount of oil and gas assessed value. This amount has been significantly
dropping in the last few years as production and prices drop. In 1996 alone, oil and
gas assessed valuation in Weld County dropped 20.39%. Even with all the residential
and commercial growth, with the drop in oil and gas assessed valuation, the total
assessed valuation for the county dropped 1.26% over the preceding year. As a result,
with the TABOR Amendment that limits property taxes in Colorado to no more than the
980948
Walter H. Stewart Page 2 May 14, 1998
new construction plus cost of living, the county's property tax collections dropped
1.26%. This happened even with a 4.10% growth in new construction and a 3.5%
inflation factor. The net effect was the county had a growth in service demands equal
to the new construction of 4.1% and a loss in purchasing power of 3.5%, with a drop of
actual dollars of 1.26%.
The above covers what happened in Weld County in the 1996 budget year which is the
same budget year the article covered from Johnson County, Kansas. From the
information presented, we hope you can appreciate why the property taxes for Weld
County did not drop in 1996. I would point out that in 1995, the mill levy in Weld
County did drop .419 mills. Within the limitations of the state law and/or home rule
charter, we do drop our mill levy like Johnson County whenever the opportunity
presents itself.
We trust this answers your concerns. If you have other questions, please call Don
Warden, Director of Finance and Administration, at 356-4000, extension 4218, or me
at extension 4200.
Sincerely,
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Constance L. Harbert, Chair
cc: Don Warden
2636 14tt}_ Gt,. , Greeley 80631
I)May 5, 199$'Aye� ,!.' _ .PT
County Commissioners of Weld County:
We have just returned from Olathe, Kan. , the county
seat of Johnson County. Right next to Kansas City, Kan. ,
this is an area of burgeoning economy and building.
The enclosed reprint from a Johnson County newspaper
shows that this county, when raising assessments of properties
there, knows it can find a way not to be so burdensome on its
taxpayers -- it has reduced the tax rate.
Why can't Weld County adopt a similar method?
Some of us don't have the money to continue to support
more taxes and more taxes and more spending and even larger
spending by the county and state. We believe it can be done
here in Weld County just as in Johnson County.
Try it, please!
Sincerely,
Walter H. Stewart 9 � yg
A i 44( A 1 401
II
hnson County residents about the programs and services of Johnson County Government Fall 1995 Vol. 1,No.2 I
Promises Kept
alendar: Johnson County Government
n "as
rl Wastewater Treat- Lowers '96 Property Tax Levy
a.m.;20001 W.47th, Johnson County Government's property tax l crease in value during reappraisal will see 1996 county
lion,call 338-1300 will drop for the second year in a row in 1996 under taxes reduced about$20. The owner of a$100,000
a budget adopted in August by the Board of County residence whose property increased five percent in
source Library grand
Commissioners. value as a result of reappraisal will see about a$5 drop
;n house; 9 a.m. to 5 The commissioners further have pledged to hold in county taxes.
a.m.Sept.30;Central
the mill levy that determines property taxes for 1997 Commissioners promised the rollback to residents
th St.,Overland Park.
5 2400 and 1998,barring additional requirements imposed during a successful spring campaign for a quarter-
g a Divorce," alook by the state or federal governments, or new items cent sales tax for public safety. Proceeds from the
approved by voters. sales tax will be dedicated the first five years to con-
ren ahipbet�ween The 1996 mill levy rollback and freeze fulfill a structing a new county jail,sheriff's office and com-
leal; 10 a in:,to noon promise made by the county commissioners to off- munity corrections addition, and to operating a ju-
lealih Center, 6000 set the results of property reappraisal last spring. venue hall expansion. All the programs had been at
xis required, $10/in-
The
exact levy will be set later in the fall by the capacity.
more information or County Clerk's Office,but the budget is built on a 6 The county will save taxpayers$14 million in in-
!f Johnson County,",a percent reduction from 1995, the same amount as terest by dedicating the sales tax to pay off jail debt
fohnson:Counh with the increase in the county's total appraised value. in five years instead of the usual 20. Jail operations
The owner ofa $100,000 house that did not in- (Continued on page 7)
vns boomed and oth-
.,departingfromMu 1996 BUDGET ALLOCATION BY STRATEGIC AREA
;man Road,Shawnee.
i/members; $18/ngn-,
For more information,
9,
sting: 6-12.Year Old ■Reat:icted Reserves
is Debt Service 4%
n parenting the grade- 4%
I.m;'Johnson County o General Government
•Economic Development 13
rvations required,$10/ +y
For more information
0. a Culture&Recreation
link Again,"looks at "%
s of making the deci-
p.m.,Johnson County .Public Safety a Judiciary
ervations required,no
or to register,call 831-
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