In the November election, Arapahoe County voters will have the opportunity to decide whether the county can collect and retain more property taxes from its residents.

The proposal on the ballot is a so-called “debrucing” measure, a legal adjustment of a local government’s relationship to the revenue limits established by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). If passed, the measure would remove the revenue cap established by TABOR, allowing the county to collect up to $72 million extra per year from property taxes.

By a 4-1 vote, commissioners put the measure on the Nov. 5 ballot, with 3rd District Commissioner Jeff Baker voting against it. He said many of his constituents opposed the measure being on the ballot.

In Colorado, more than 50 of the state’s 64 counties have passed similar measures to eliminate TABOR revenue caps, including the traditionally conservative counties of Douglas and El Paso.

For months, the county has been sounding the alarm about a potential budget crisis that could lead to cuts to some essential services. If the measure passes, the county hopes the additional revenue will help avert or reduce cuts.

“This county is belt-tightened,” said Jessica Campbell, county commissioner for the 2nd District, at a public hearing on August 20. “The belt cannot be tightened here without the quality of service suffering.”

Without additional revenue, the county would face up to $35 million in cuts next year, including up to $12 million to the sheriff’s department, up to $3.7 million to public works and up to $4.7 million to municipal resources, public health and social services.

Finance Director Todd Weaver said the county’s approved property tax rate is $15.821 per $1,000 of assessed property value. However, due to revenue limits set by TABOR, the county is allowed to withhold $11.206 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2024, which is about $32 per month for a property value of $500,000. That money, as well as one-time funds declining due to the pandemic, will go toward county services.

If the measure passes, the county will be able to collect and retain $15,821 per $1,000 of assessed property value. For a home valued at $500,000, that would be about $44 per month.

Natalie Menten, a member of the TABOR Foundation, a group that advocates for TABOR, spoke at the public hearing against putting the bill on the ballot. She said the wording on the ballot did not make it clear that more money from citizens’ pockets would flow into the county.

“The language on the ballot is misleading and it is unfortunate that the county spent taxpayer dollars … to conduct the public persuasion presented in the earlier portion of this session,” she said, referring to the county’s public events and outreach efforts related to the ballot proposal.

Some residents supported the measure, expressing concern about what the decreasing funding would mean for county services. Some spoke on behalf of social service agencies such as Family Tree and Gateway Domestic Violence Services, saying they would no longer be able to provide their services without the county’s financial support.

Others spoke about county services that they fear will be lost.

“It’s time for this group of county commissioners to put this issue to a vote,” said one resident. “I’m old. I’m getting older by the minute. And there’s a large population — the state of Colorado is aging — and many of them are going to need services that they’re going to come to the county for.”

Campbell said commissioners would respect TABOR by putting the measure before voters.

“America is about self-determination,” she said. “That’s what TABOR does. TABOR — and what we’re doing here by putting something to the vote … that’s the consent of the governed. We’re not going to erase TABOR. This is part of TABOR.”

Carrie Warren Gully, commissioner of the 1st District, said she is aware that people across the county are struggling financially.

“We see people sitting at their kitchen tables and struggling, and we want to acknowledge that,” she said. “But we also sit at the Commissioner’s conference table and make equally difficult decisions.”

If voters approve the ballot proposal, the county would still have to present tax measures to voters to increase the business tax and sales tax, said District Attorney Ron Carl.

Property tax expenditures are reported in an annual audit and reviewed by a residents’ advisory committee, said Michelle Halstead, director of the commissioner’s office.

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