Colorado's Fees Versus Taxes.

Deep Blue Colorado politicians have found a way around TABOR.

Want to put together a constitutional amendment that instructs the judiciary to consider any tax, fee, or levy collected by any level of government in the State of Colorado to be a tax for TABOR purposes?

While we're at it, how about we submit one that limits, or eliminates, the property taxes on the primary residence of anyone 70+ years of age, who has resided in that home for either 5 or 10 years, to keep them from losing their domiciles to the tax man?

Youngsters like the idea of forcing seniors to sell their homes and downsize to senior living. Unfortunately inflation is so bad lately that it is cheaper for seniors to remain in huge homes they bought in the 70's and 80's rather than spending $1200 for a one bedroom apartment. Even after paying property taxes.

I see no evidence that youngsters are forcing oldsters out of their homes. Rather they are moving in with their parents rent and board free.
It is not that inflation is bad, core CPI is 2.52% a of 6/26, rather that interest rates are so high that downsizing does not mean lowering costs.
As many others I have a mortgage, 3%, to move it would require me to pay at least twice that rate. When banks stopped allowing mortgages to be assumable, Garn-St.Germain Act 1982, on it led to the housing situation we are now facing.
Hypothetical: I. sell my home for $1 million, I have a $600,000 mortgage at 3%. The buyer then has to go out and get a mortgage of 80% at a rate of 6.85% on $800,000. Would I be willing to take back a 2nd at 3-5% on $200,000 and have the buyer assume the 3% loan. Hell, yes. The sale is completed and I am now in the housing or rental market . Plug in whatever numbers you like, the final answer is that banks hurt themselves by not writing assumable mortgages because they saw the wild rates of the 1980's and were frightened.
Bottom line I am in a home that is too big for me but affordable. A family of 5 its out of luck because they cannot afford the current interest rates.
To bring President Trump into the mix, being a builder you can see why he fights against high interest rates. I agree with him.

I remember in the spring of 2004, when the house in Bailey was purchased, remarking to CS that we had to buy the home now, interests rates were only 6.0 - 6.125%, lower than I'd ever seen them in my lifetime and I was afraid that if we waited much longer we'd miss the bottom.

I remember the house my father had built in Evergreen in 1977. He was so happy to get the VA loan at only 8.75%. It's not that today's interest rates are out of line, it is the price of the housing that is outrageous.

My parents bought a brand new, brick exterior, ranch home, 3 bd, 1.75 bath, eat in kitchen, separate dining room, living room, covered back porch, full unfinished basement, 2 car attached garage in a brand new subdivision near Hampden and Monaco in SE Denver for the princely sum of $19,800. Adjusted for inflation that "starter" home should be priced at around $235K, not $470k.

That home had many items standard at the time that would be considered upgrades today. The subfloor was solid oak, 2 x 10 wood floor joists on 16" centers, 9" thick concrete foundation, and the builders laid down the sod in the front and back yards. Now, mind you, the garage in 1977 had to accommodate the Cadillacs of the day . . . so they were a bit larger than the "oversized" garages you'll find in modern homes. I mean, we're talking 25 x 20, not 20 x 16 here.

PrintSmith wrote: Want to put together a constitutional amendment that instructs the judiciary to consider any tax, fee, or levy collected by any level of government in the State of Colorado to be a tax for TABOR purposes?

While we're at it, how about we submit one that limits, or eliminates, the property taxes on the primary residence of anyone 70+ years of age, who has resided in that home for either 5 or 10 years, to keep them from losing their domiciles to the tax man?

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i think they already have it in place..."the homesteaders act"....we just qualified for it last year,u have to be over 60 or 65 and have lived in your home for TEN YEARS, the eleventh year u start the reduction., so our taxes in 2027 will be reduced.....(good thing,with inflation being obscene)

The homesteaders act is a 50% off of the first 200,000. evaluation. It amounts to a nice little discount but the yearly rise in mill levy and inflated evaluations puts the amount of property taxes back to the amount that was owed before receiving the discount.
It could be looked up yet I bet the county is now collecting more taxes than before the act was enacted on my property.

The dollar has lost 30% of its value in the last eight years so programs like the Homestead Act become less useful every year.

Unintended consequences? This program does encourage seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible. Transferring the property taxes to young families just starting out.

All about whose ox is getting gored, right?