Limitations on Revenue

Colorado law prohibits taxing entities from increasing revenues greater than the amount of local growth, plus inflation unless an election is held and voters approve such an increase, in advance. Local growth is determined by either a percentage change in student enrollment for school districts or based on a new construction formula for all other districts. Inflation is defined as the percentage change in the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for Denver, Boulder.

Note: Revenue increases are limited to a maximum 5.5 percent, even if inflation exceeds this percentage.

Example

Setting the tax rate (or mill levy) for a single taxing entity:

  • Assume the total assessed value for the county, as determined by the assessor, is $100,000,000. The county commissioners determine the budgeted property tax revenues need to be $2,434,600.
  • $2,434,600 / $100,000,000 = .024346, or 2.4346%, or 24.346 mills
  • This means the county tax rate is $24.35 in revenue for each $1,000 of assessed value.