The final Residential Assessment Rate (RAR) Study released by the Division of Property Taxation (DPT) on April10, 2019,estimates anRARof 7.15 percent for property tax years 2019 and 2020. The General Assembly would have to pass a bill for this rate to become law. The anticipated assessed values associated with this study have a significant impact on the local share for school finance. Compared with the December 2018 Legislative Council Staff assessed value forecast, the local share for school finance (local share) with a residential assessment rate of 7.15percent increases by $107.6million in FY2019-20. The actual local share will depend on the accuracy of the forecast and the RAR set by the General Assembly.
This memorandum provides background information on Colorado’s business personal property tax. Personal property includes machinery, equipment, and other goods used to operate a business that are not part of a building or structure and its fixtures. For the purposes of this memo, business...
This memorandum provides information on state government enterprises under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, also known as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). From FY 1993-94 through FY 2023-24, over 30 state government entities had received enterprise status for at least...
The harmful effects of secondhand smoke and emissions from tobacco, marijuana, and electronic smoking devices continue to be an issue in Colorado. Since 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified secondhand tobacco smoke as a known cause of cancer.
House Bill 24-1448 enacted a new school finance formula, to begin in FY 2025-26 and be phased in over a 6-year period. This memorandum provides an overview of the new formula, the six‑year phase‑in period, and the parameters that would result in pausing implementation of the new formula. It does...
This report contains the final audited figures for state revenue retained under Referendum C in the 2005‑06 through 2023-24 state fiscal years and preliminary numbers for the 2024-25 state fiscal year. It also reflects the actions of the General Assembly and
This memorandum provides an overview of ranked choice voting in Colorado and other states. Ranked choice voting is a method of voting where voters rank candidates by preference. Ranked choice voting is currently used in nonpartisan elections in several Colorado municipalities, with at least one...
This memorandum summarizes the primary funding changes to school finance for FY 2024-25. Several enacted bills during the 2024 legislative session and August 2024 special session substantively impact the financing of public schools in Colorado.
Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2024-25. Implications of the forecast for the state's General Fund budget and spending limit are described in the report's highlights and executive summary sections. The report is based on current law,...
During the 2024 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a variety of measures related to kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) education in Colorado. Specifically, the legislature adopted bills related to health, safety, and well being; supports for students, teachers, and other...
This memorandum discusses the Mill Levy Override Match Program, as well as concerns about the current framework and potential solutions and alternatives that have been discussed. The MLO Match Program Task Force created in House Bill 24-1448 is charged with recommending changes to the program,...
The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 6, 2025, if the General Assembly adjourns sine die on May 7, 2025 (unless otherwise specified).Details