COLORADO SPRINGS – Voters in Colorado can decide whether to provide more disabled veterans with property tax credits.
Currently, veterans must have a 100% disability rating to qualify for the federal property tax exemption.
A change in the law aims to expand the eligibility requirements.
The vote will take place in November.
If this amendment is adopted, veterans with a lower level of disability who are therefore unable to work will also qualify.
“It would help a lot of disabled veterans like me,” said Philip Howe, who lives in Colorado Springs.
Howe is confident he would qualify if voters approved this change.
Philip told me that he was in the military for six years, has a 70% disability, and has been unable to work for two years.
“As a disabled veteran on a fixed income, it would definitely be a financial relief to pay less property taxes,” Howe said.
Mark Flutcher, El Paso County Accessor, told me that veterans who qualify could receive a property tax exemption on property valued at up to $100,000.
“Every little bit helps, you know, it helps with shopping and with bills,” Howe said.
The state launched this tax relief program for disabled veterans in 2007. “Since then, we’ve approved about 8,600 applications (in El Paso County), so close,” Flutcher said.
If this proposal is passed, the property tax exemption changes will take effect on January 1. Disabled veterans must apply through the county assessor by July.
“I’m pretty optimistic about the adoption because we’re in a military state, and Colorado Springs in particular is a military city,” Howe said.
The state reimburses the district treasurers for the loss of revenue caused by these property tax exemptions.
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