Weld County Commissioners Request Property Tax Relief From State

Weld County Commissioners voted to ask Governor Jared Polis for help in the form of property tax relief at a meeting Wednesday. 

In their request, commissioners asked the governor to extend property tax due dates and/or waive interest on late payments.

“By temporarily suspending interest payments required…for late payments, taxpayers could keep their funds in their bank accounts and on their balance sheets for another six months at little cost to them and little real costs or revenue loss to local governments in the state,” according to the request. 

The move comes as Polis issued a statewide “stay at home” order Wednesday afternoon, requiring folks to stop unnecessary travel and socialization. The order takes effect today and lasts through April 11. 

“You have a chance to be a hero and save thousands of lives by staying at home,” Polis said. “It might be the lives of your friends, your family, and your neighbors – maybe even your own.” 

At least 106 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and four people died in Weld, according to the Weld County Department of Health and Environment. 

The order allows essential services, such as grocery stores, gas stations, and liquor stores to stay open. 

But Polis ordered other business, such as restaurants and bars to close dine-in services until at least April 30. Greeley businesses are already feeling the squeeze, according to a report by the Colorado Sun, hence the commissioners’ request.

Most stakeholders are on board with the request, Commissioner Mike Freeman said at the commissioner meeting Wednesday.  

Freeman mentioned some entities that rely on property taxes to function, like school districts, expressed some concern over the commissioner’s proposal. He didn’t mention the districts by name, but he said two superintendents were worried about how they would pay teachers if folks paid their property taxes late. 

“They may have sounded distraught, but they support the decision,” Freeman said. “I think they were losing their minds a little bit looking at their own financials.” 

According to the commissioners’ letter, serious cashflow problems for school districts or special districts would crop up only “if many taxpayers took advantage of the delay,” but they “assume that many taxpayers will pay their taxes as they normally do.”

In their request, commissioners asked Polis to issue an executive order suspending interest payments until Oct. 31, 2020, in addition to any COVID-19 financial relief packages the administration brings forward. 

“We’ve been hearing from small businesses and individuals who are thinking, ‘how am I going to pay my mortgage? How am I going to pay my rent?’ In the meantime, property tax is due at the county,” said Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer. “This is an excellent way to provide an opportunity for some relief.”