Tracking what's destroying Colorado
A curated collection of bills, news, and resources about Colorado politics and policy
A curated collection of bills, news, and resources about Colorado politics and policy
Colorado property taxes are poised to increase for most homeowners in 2026, even if home values stay flat, as temporary relief measures from 2024—such as reduced assessment rates and a $55,000 taxable value subtraction for primary residences—phase out. This stems from a 2023 bipartisan legislative deal and subsequent laws (including Senate Bill 24-233 and House Bill 24-1001) that introduced a split-rate structure for school districts and local governments. For 2026, the residential assessment rate for local government levies rises to around 6.8%, though offset somewhat by a new deduction of up to 10% of a home's value (capped at $70,000). In areas like Summit County mountain resorts, a $1 million home might see taxes hover around $3,400–$3,500 depending on local mill levies. Overall, Colorado still has one of the nation's lowest effective residential property tax rates (0.49% vs. the U.S. average of 0.90%), but the end of short-term caps means higher permanent costs ahead after post-pandemic adjustments and the 2020 repeal of the Gallagher Amendment.
Another year, another squeeze on Colorado families and fixed-income retirees—property tax bills are heading up in 2026 because the temporary bandaids slapped on by Denver politicians are peeling off, exposing the full cost of years of unchecked government spending and the fallout from repealing taxpayer protections like the Gallagher Amendment back in 2020. Lawmakers keep kicking the can down the road with "bipartisan deals" that delay the pain but never fix the root problem: bloated local budgets for schools and services that grow faster than people's ability to pay. Homeowners who played by the rules, paid their mortgages, and built equity are now getting punished with hundreds more taken out of their pockets, even if their home value doesn't budge. It's time for real, permanent relief—like hard caps on revenue growth and forcing governments to prioritize essentials—instead of these half-measures that just set us up for the next hike. Coloradans deserve better than being treated as an endless ATM for the state.