“The government has the power to ease the tax burden, but appears totally reluctant to address the “sacred cow” of property taxes.” — Mark Boyko, Denver
Kelly Duff is a disabled music teacher who lives on $1,110 a month and has seen her property taxes spike this year. Duff poses for a photo outside her small bungalow-style home in Denver on March 6, 2026.
The Post’s editorial on property tax reform fully recognizes that the current system of property tax assessments is an onerous one. While the need to fund public services is essential, the burden of Colorado’s property taxes on homeowners borders on the repressive. Critically, it affects the ability to purchase a home and maintain a reasonable standard of living. Every year, the PITI calculation increases at an exponential rate. It is not only property taxes, but insurance rates, maintenance costs, and energy rates that continue to spiral out of control. What is affordable today will no longer be affordable within 5 years. If you are retired and on a fixed pension income, you soon will be trying to find ways to stay in your home and meet expenses while your income base shrinks. The government has the power to ease the tax burden, but appears totally reluctant to address the “sacred cow” of property taxes. In 2024,would have been on the ballot for Colorado voters. But political pressure and Gov. Jared Polis, as well as the lack of termity of the initiative’s sponsors, doomed its inclusion on the ballot, and it was removed. The entire process smacked of the typical backroom political deal. Unfortunately, the only way to reform Colorado’s arcane property tax system will be by citizen initiative or constitutional amendments submitted directly to the voters. Neither the governor nor the Colorado Legislature have the political fortitude to genuinely face the problem and develop viable solutions to ease the burden of Colorado’s property taxes.The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy provides resources to understand property taxes, including how to reduce the mill levy when property valuations go up. Colorado’s local elected officials have the power to provide badly needed property tax relief 2 Colorado prison wardens have been on paid leave for more than year. Officials won’t say why they’re being investigated.Seniors who have become accustomed to this annual property tax break will be shocked when they get their next bill in January 2027, as they learn that the legislature will defund this program, which reimburses Colorado counties for the amount granted to affected taxpayers. Don’t take my word for it – just call your state representative and/or senator for confirmation.I watered my sagebrush recently. I’ve never needed to do that before, since it’s well adapted to hot, dry conditions. While pondering its survivability, recent headlines in the Denver Post came to mind — ”“, etc. What’s the common thread? Global warming. But it’s not just a problem for my sagebrush, or Colorado, or the American Southwest. Domestic migration into the Sun Belt states is declining, due in part to off-the-chart heat waves, devastating storms, once-in-a-century floods, and year-round fire seasons — along with the consequential costs, such as unaffordable homeowners’ insurance and destroyed livelihoods. These migrants will move to places with fewer of these global-warming-caused problems — like Colorado — and we will feel the effects of which we are not prepared. My sagebrush is sending us all a warning. It’s the same warning that the climate scientists have been making for decades — expect to see a lot more Denver Post articles about the costs of global warming, and much sooner than you expected.We echo the letter writer’s opinion that we want our property tax bill mailed out. The postcards sent out this year clearly said “This is not a bill” and therefore went straight into our recycling. Only because of The Denver Post’s article last month did we realize this was indeed our property tax bill! Is a mailed postcard so much less expensive than a mailed bill? The Denver Treasury can save money by not sending out hardcopy bills to those who have a mortgage on their property, as the mortgage company effectively pays the taxes to the city on behalf of the owner. We own our property outright and need to receive a bill so that we can promptly pay our taxes easily via return envelope. While we can figure this new system out, my mom certainly cannot. She has a smartphone and not a computer. Please write a follow-up article on how many property tax delinquencies ensue this year.Re: “Putin is not our ally,” March 22 commentary Trudy Rubin’s op-ed was superb. Without any provocation, Russian leader Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and has killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians. He is a war criminal, and as Ms. Rubin clearly and concisely explains, Putin has never had a better lap dog and useful sycophant than President Trump.Voting documentation should be within reason and obtainable in a timely manner It is difficult to understand how requiring that only United States citizens vote in U.S. elections has become controversial. Recent Senate debate over voter legislation highlights a deeper issue. Supporters emphasize election integrity, while opponents warn about potential barriers to participation. Both concerns matter. But one principle should not be negotiable: Federal elections are for citizens. There is room for reasonable discussion about how to implement verification without burdening eligible voters. That is where thoughtful leadership is needed. However, rejecting the goal of citizenship verification altogether risks weakening public confidence in the system. A healthy democracy depends on both access and integrity. We should not have to choose between the two.As debate grows around requiring proof of citizenship to vote, there is a straightforward principle that should guide policy: if the government requires it, the government should provide it. As a Colorado resident who has long voted by mail, I have seen firsthand how a system can be both secure and accessible. That balance is not theoretical. It is already working here. Requiring proof of citizenship may be intended to strengthen election integrity. But without universal access, it risks creating new barriers for eligible voters. Nearly half of Americans do not have a valid passport. Obtaining one can cost more than $150, not including fees for birth certificates, time off work, or travel to application centers.If policymakers are serious about election integrity, the solution is simple. Make proof of citizenship free and easy to obtain. Expand access through post offices, DMVs, and mobile units. Ensure every eligible voter can comply without unnecessary burden.Carole Buyers, Englewood The March 23 “Today in history stated, “1933: The German Reichstag adopted the Enabling Act, which effectively granted Adolf Hitler dictatorial powers.”Data centers could be boon to state coffers and struggling communitiesKrista Kafers’s recent column is yet another in the Post’s line of one-sided anti-data-center opinions. While all have been poorly informed, hers is excessively so. She reports that a sales and use tax exemption would reduce Colorado general fund revenue by tens of millions of dollars. That’s only true if the data centers were to be developed regardless of the tax exemption … which is nonsensical. As she notes, 38 other states offer exemptions — the development will go there.Moreover, she ignores the substantial benefits that lead politicians to entice data center development. These include property, income, payroll, and local taxes. Employment growth is also important. She cites low-estimate staff per data center while ignoring permanent security and maintenance staff. These sites also fund hundreds of construction jobs that last 5-10 years or more until the facility is complete. Even then, technology changes drive regular retrofit work and upgrades. These combined benefits are a boon to struggling towns and cities, of which Colorado has its fair share. Anyone familiar with data center regions like northern Virginia, eastern Oregon, and central Washington knows that such areas have seen appreciable improvements in roads, utilities, schools, government services, and population and economic growth. Approval ofFemale-focused ski fest, famous for its naked lap, will go on despite no snow for skiingCherry Creek Schools investigation targets $3 million in contracts with education firm, international travelDaily Horoscope for March 27, 2026‘There’s a snake in my bag!’ CU Boulder student returns from Costa Rica, finds venomous stowaway
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