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Sound off: Vote no on Ballot Issue A

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Contributed by: Kathy Tourney on 3/25/2008

Even though the levy has not increased for 20 years, the amount of tax collected increases as property values go up.

Residents of KCRMD pay 102.494 mills for property taxes to Jefferson County, (compared to 66.897 mills in Denver.) The county collects the taxes payable to KCRMD. The proposed KCRMD increase of 2.5 mills would raise property taxes to 104.994 mills, plus other anticipated state and county tax increases for education, health care and roads. This is in addition to KCR Master Association Home Owners dues of $468/year, which increased by 11.43% in 2008.

This proposed tax increase places an unfair burden on working families, and older or disabled people on fixed incomes. It discriminates against those already paying a larger share of property tax because their home has a higher value.

· Calculate your new property tax obligation:

Multiply the assessor's value of your home by the current assessment factor of 7.96%. Multiply that result by the proposed mill levy, 104.994.

Example:

Home valued at $600,000 x 7.96% = Assessed Value $47,760 x 104.994 mills (10.4994%) = $5,014.51 property tax per year to Jefferson County for schools, roads and bridges, drainage, police, fire, developmental disabilities, library, social services and capital construction.

· KCRMD share of your property tax obligation:

Assessed Value $47,760 x 15.209 mills (1.5209%) = $726.38 with proposed increase, plus $468/year for Home Owners dues = $1,194.38. Put another way, 22% of the taxes and fees you would be required to pay on your home would support Ken Caryl specifically. This is without any improved transparency, or accountability provided to you by the KCRMD/MA administrations.

This tax liability increases as your home value rises, and if A &B are successful, would continue forever without a cap.

· Higher property taxes negatively affect the re-sale value of your home.

The actual ballot language is deliberately vague. The tax increase is to be used for "capital improvements, maintenance and general administrative/operational purposes" but there is nothing in Ballot Issue A that guarantees accountability or transparency for how - or on what - the money will be spent. Employee salaries and benefits, and legal fees for the lawsuit against Plains Metro District (over $400,000 in the past three years), are among the expenses included in the budget item, "operations."

The financial business of the KCRMD Board- a quasi-governmental organization funded by taxpayers - is not transparent to those who pay for it.

A permanent tax increase is unnecessary. By KCRMD's own estimates, upgrades to recreational amenities could be paid for within a few years.

Don't burden taxpayers with a permanent tax increase. Increase user fees for recreational amenities rather than collecting an increasing amount of tax (due to higher property values) every year, forever. Everyone pays, regardless of whether or not they use the swimming pool, tennis courts, athletic center, or children's programs. The Equestrian Center is self-sustaining. Use this model for increased user fees. Ask taxpayers to pay their fair share - and nothing more.

Kathy Tourney
Ken-Caryl

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