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08_29_2024 Headlines John Kelin
Colorado legislature passes property tax relief bill as special session concludes
The Colorado legislature concluded their special session on property tax relief yesterday, agreeing on and passing a bipartisan bill. The legislation is designed to prevent two more conservative property tax initiatives from reaching the November ballot.
Senate Bill 233 keeps property tax rates steady and includes reductions in taxable property values—$55,000 for residential and $30,000 for commercial properties. The bill also sets higher tax rates for schools to protect education funding and includes a 5.5% cap on local government property tax revenue growth, down from a proposed 10%. This cap can only be exceeded with voter approval, ensuring community oversight on tax increases.
The bill was approved by both the House and the Senate, and it now awaits Governor Jared Polis’s signature.
According to Colorado Newsline, lawmakers hope this approach will stabilize property taxes, protect essential public funding, and prevent deeper budget cuts that could occur if the conservative-backed ballot initiatives were passed.
Colorado wildlife officials relocate wolves after livestock killings
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has begun trapping and relocating wolves from the Copper Creek pack, which has been killing livestock in Grand County.
The Colorado Sun reports that the decision marks a shift in the state’s controversial wolf reintroduction plan. The pack, consisting of two adult wolves and three pups, had been linked to the deaths of several cattle and a sheep since April.
CPW’s Director Jeff Davis emphasized that this relocation is not a precedent for future actions, noting that options were limited in this unique case. Federal wildlife managers are assisting with the operation.
Colorado’s Northern Water doesn’t want Xcel to sell water rights to Colorado’s Western Water District
Two major water agencies in Colorado, Northern Water and the Colorado River District, are in disagreement over a $99 million plan to buy historic water rights from the Shoshone Power Plant.
The dispute revolves around the sale of historic water rights tied to the Shoshone Power Plant on the Colorado River, currently owned by Xcel Energy. The Colorado River District, which represents the Western Slope, wants to acquire these rights to secure more water for their region.
Northern Water, which provides water to over 1 million people on the Front Range, including in Denver and Boulder, says the Western slope doesn’t need all that water. If the Colorado River District gains control of these rights, Northern Water says it could disrupt existing water-sharing agreements. That’s all according to The Colorado Sun.
Both agencies are awaiting further analysis of historical water use at the Shoshone Power Plant to guide any further decision-making.
Colorado draft rules on oil and gas oversight spark outcry over reduced protections
Colorado legislators and environmental advocates are criticizing the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission’s latest draft of rules governing the cumulative impacts of oil and gas drilling.
The August revisions, made after industry feedback, are seen as weakening protections for disproportionately impacted communities, deviating from previous legislative intents and June’s stricter draft.
According to the Colorado Sun, critics argue that the softened rules favor industry concerns over public health and environmental justice, and they’re pushing for a reevaluation to ensure robust safeguards against pollution. A public hearing is set for September 3.
Colorado dairy workers say they’re only given gloves to handle cows infected with bird flu
Colorado dairy workers say they are only given gloves while handling cows infected with bird flu.
That’s according to a new report from the Colorado Sentinel, who spoke with farmworkers at a recent Farmworker Appreciation Day event in Weld County. Many workers reported experiencing flu-like symptoms and conjunctivitis after handling the sick cows, raising concerns about insufficient protective measures.
Despite the government offering free personal protective equipment, fewer than 13% of the state’s dairies have requested it. Health experts are calling for increased use of PPE and better awareness to protect workers.
Bird flu began showing up in the country’s dairy cattle in recent months. 10 of the 13 confirmed human cases of the virus this year have occurred in Colorado.
Longmont City Council considers raising local minimum wage amid regional wage hike efforts
Longmont City Council is exploring the possibility of raising the local minimum wage but is seeking more input from employers and residents before deciding.
Colorado’s state minimum wage is currently $14.42, but a 2019 state law allows cities to set their own rates.
The discussion coincides with Boulder’s City Council’s vote last week to raise wages for its lowest paid workers. Both cities participated in a study which contracted a firm to assess the economic impacts of a regional wage increase.
While some Longmont residents and business owners support higher wages to benefit low-income workers, others worry about increased costs driving up prices and affecting local businesses. That’s according to The Daily Camera.
Denver pays for another police misconduct settlement
Denver City Council voted Monday to pay $437,500 to freelance photographer Ambrose Cruz, who police injured during the early days of the George Floyd protests in 2020.
Officers followed Cruz into a parking garage near the Capitol and shot him with PepperBalls, injuring his eye and bruising his face.
Police arrested Cruz that night for violating a curfew, but prosecutors later dropped the charges. This settlement follows a previous $4.72 million class action involving over 300 people, accusing police of selectively enforcing the curfew against protesters and violating their First Amendment rights.
