Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Housing

Colorado lawmakers seek to boost condo development by reducing lawsuits over construction errors
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado lawmakers seek to boost condo development by reducing lawsuits over construction errors

Condos are seen as a key way to ease Colorado’s housing affordability crisis, but changing the state’s so-called construction defects laws has been a political third rail By Jesse Paul | Colorado Sun In a bid to spur condominium construction in Colorado, a group of state lawmakers introduced a bill Monday aimed at reducing lawsuits over construction errors by narrowing when they can be filed and by giving builders and homeowners an avenue to make repairs faster and without going to court.  Senate Bill 106, the so-called construction defects measure, is a major part of the affordable housing debate at the Colorado Capitol this year.  Proponents of easing Colorado’s construction defects laws, including Gov. Jared Polis, see the change as a way to persuade...
Colorado Democrats launch second attempt to allow more accessory dwelling units to ease housing crisis
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado Democrats launch second attempt to allow more accessory dwelling units to ease housing crisis

By Brian Eason and Jesse Paul Single-family homeowners in the most populous parts of Colorado would be allowed to build accessory dwelling units on their properties under a bill introduced Tuesday in the legislature aiming to override local zoning rules in areas that currently prohibit them. House Bill 1152 is the first of several marquee bills that Democrats at the Capitol, in partnership with Gov. Jared Polis, are expected to introduce this year that would target city and county land use regulations in an effort to tackle Colorado’s affordable housing crisis.  A similar push last year ended in a political dumpster fire for the governor when he tried to pack an array of changes into one measure that ultimately failed after weeks of animosity between him and local leader...
Colorado’s Push for Multiple Housemates to Solve ‘Affordable Housing’ Raises Concerns
Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Colorado’s Push for Multiple Housemates to Solve ‘Affordable Housing’ Raises Concerns

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM A controversial bill introduced in the Colorado legislature aims to tackle the state's housing shortage by prohibiting cities from implementing limits on how many people can live together. House Bill 24-1007, one of many bills being considered, has sparked criticism as it disregards the potential negative consequences of overcrowding and undermines property rights. The proposed bill would ban occupancy limits based on factors such as familial status and relationship, only allowing restrictions tied to a dwelling's square footage if necessary for health and safety. Proponents argue that the legislation is necessary to address the rising costs of housing and to provide more affordable options for individuals and families. PRIME SPONSORS Rep. Manny Ruti...
Polis Promise made; promise denied. Property taxes to spike 25%
Approved, coloradopeakpolitics.com, State

Polis Promise made; promise denied. Property taxes to spike 25%

SOURCE: COLORADO PEAK POLITICS The bill is coming due for living in a state controlled by a tax-and-spend political party and homeowners will be paying the brunt of it this year when property taxes are projected to spike an average of 25%. PeakNation™ will recall Gov. Polis and his Democrat buddies in the state legislature promised us property tax relief last year, but instead gave us a tax hike ballot measure that failed miserably. Because it was a tax hike, not a tax break. Then Polis called a special session of his cronies to hold a special session and he promised to seriously cut property taxes that time, but it was just a drop in the bucket. Again his word meant nothing. Promises made, promises denied. You know the old saying, fool us once, shame on you, fool us...
Governor removes Democrat from board that blocked Douglas County’s property tax cut, replaces him with Republican
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Governor removes Democrat from board that blocked Douglas County’s property tax cut, replaces him with Republican

Jared Polis took Bernie Buescher off the State Board of Equalization, giving Republicans a majority on the panel that reviews local property tax decisions By Jesse Paul | SOURCE: THE COLORADO SUN Jared Polis removed a Democrat he appointed to a state board that reviews local property tax decisions after the panel in December unanimously rejected Douglas County’s attempt to offer a $28 million tax break to homeowners. The governor blasted the State Board of Equalization’s decision at the time, and then last week took former Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher off the panel and replaced him with Richard Sokol, an Englewood Republican, who sits on the board for South Metro Fire Rescue.  Polis’ swap not only sends another message about his dislike for the State Board o...
Colorado property taxes may increase 25%
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado property taxes may increase 25%

By Noah Festenstein | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS Despite Gov. Jared Polis approving several property tax relief bills after the failure of Proposition HH, Colorado homeowners may still pay an average of 25% more in property tax increases, according to an analysis by the Common Sense Institute. Proposition HH intended to use the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights surplus revenue – normally money refunded to taxpayers – to reduce property taxes, fund school districts, water districts, fire districts, ambulance and hospital districts and other local governments. Voters in November did not support the tax relief measure, which was estimated to save the average homeowner $1,200 in the next three years. Following Proposition HH's defeat, Polis held a special legislative session to discuss alte...
Polis’ Ambitious Housing and Property Tax Reform Faces Harsh Criticism
Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Polis’ Ambitious Housing and Property Tax Reform Faces Harsh Criticism

SOURCE: TheLobby-CO.com During his State of the State address, Governor Jared Polis outlined an extensive set of policy goals aimed at addressing Colorado's housing shortage and property tax issues. However, critics argue that his proposed solutions rely on liberal "big government" approaches that may have unintended consequences and fail to address the root causes of the problems. Governor Polis, emboldened by his re-election and speculation about a potential presidential run, challenged both parties to adopt unconventional thinking in order ‘to make the state more livable and affordable.’ He called on Democrats to reconsider their opposition to cutting the income tax, a plea that has historically fallen flat among the Democrat majorities in the legislature. Polis urged legis...