[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6590515,"mediaKeyId","5443584-6573b7217a098a3e6db00f71888845d0","parentId",5443584,"title","Fremont County Commissioner Bell announces she will not seek a fifth term, will finish current term","audioSeconds",414,"startMs",2194000,"endMs",2608000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5443584-6573b7217a098a3e6db00f71888845d0&start=2194&end=2608","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5443584-6573b7217a098a3e6db00f71888845d0/thumbnail_2194000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6590515/Fremont-County/Colorado/Fremont-County-Commissioner-Bell-announces-she-will-not-seek-a-fifth-term-will-finish-current-term","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590515-0109884512c8028b025d0bfda04e2b7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043373&Signature=TOTiu~PnkSavgGtmBgw~07TfXUeuYSlnAIKC9zR5QEsPuV3oqxx4oHCEO9fF7Ks~1Z89BZROVZFLLCMV-V4lhtOa2uDk170qTEqfIupL810cAF1-u2XMa9cVKsVCNsGBZRU-UYbZIQoy8rAdXShs2C~oZO--fiYEZQo4lbvRVeWNNbkXhFs3pYa9pBvt8IxTUf0vL1dcsePKKbCFDl~0WUB3GbpkCVgK6vCL1GGwab2-FinHokPQwEtNBAuiysXq9qJ2uHScIdZ9jXSVgOEgDLkvGy01d83MOksv~woJH7ZnzTtoKEzA4E8h7RHtiOFP8EziHyO1SzfE-LcEsyn-fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fremont County","date","2025-07-22T14:17:15Z","article","Commissioner Bell told the Fremont County Board of County Commissioners she has decided not to seek a fifth term as the District 2 commissioner and that she will complete her current term, handing over the office on January 12.

In a prepared statement read to the board, Bell recounted her first consideration of public service as a teenager, said she is the first woman elected to the county commission from her district, and described nearly 15 years in office as an honor. She said she will continue to serve for the remainder of her term and expects to leave office on January 12; she also said she plans to travel and spend more time with family after leaving office.

Commissioners reacted with personal remarks and thanks; the board offered unanimous appreciation and noted Bell’s long service to Fremont County. Bell’s announcement does not change current governance or the board’s operations; recruitment and election planning for her successor will proceed according to normal timelines.

What was said on the record: Bell read a prepared statement to the board in which she announced her decision and said she will not resign before term end. Commissioners thanked her and noted more formal remarks and acknowledgements may follow as the term’s end approaches.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fremont County BOCC Meeting 7/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioner Bell announced at the July meeting she will not seek a fifth term and will complete her current service, handing over the office on January 12; she thanked constituents and reflected on 14+ years in office.","taxTitle","Fremont County, Colorado","taxId",27338,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6590519,"Fremont County treasurer launches monthly property-tax payment option through private escrow service",474,285000,759000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5443584-6573b7217a098a3e6db00f71888845d0&start=285&end=759","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5443584-6573b7217a098a3e6db00f71888845d0/thumbnail_285000.jpg","/articles/6590519/Fremont-County/Colorado/Fremont-County-treasurer-launches-monthly-property-tax-payment-option-through-private-escrow-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590519-bcb3be4f6f77e41ecbb6d9ac1f6a6882/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043373&Signature=XEHqgVOIobk9Lv3ZFOKZhOJX-nD8cx2jYtFm4QEY-bpRMhJ74ufyLHxlApZPHjDMIgUhSKq2lkaZZuhcD2VuXziAlcGi6WEXLkLGajXiV7Tb1sX57m4A8FlFUSBlWVE0jpTXfH4f~SFxYzpo-q~EFOyDUzKNEZs7s4ZEJ4Qh8MDWqeFeVqYj8gZ7KBN3yYztPufBfSOnE5UYfc4KdGTlX90wX5ncgWE2w2KxzM07olZqMcDraMjTp~DeAy~6Naq-25eLlbZQAhu-BOeu-OIb1XWYrEWOw6FeYnDbS7luUqk7ITAcphQRVLwVqVb6S~YS6BkJLw-vfPZyw8p-AUzdzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fremont County Treasurer and Public Trustee Kathy Elliott told the Board of County Commissioners the county has joined a multi-county service that allows property owners to make monthly property-tax payments through an outside escrow vendor called Escrow Taxes.

Elliott described the program as a voluntary convenience tool for taxpayers, especially homeowners without mortgage escrows or those on fixed incomes. The county will not absorb the vendor’s fees; Escrow Taxes charges $1 for e-check/ACH transactions and 2.5% (minimum $2) for debit or credit-card payments, with fees disclosed at checkout.

How it works: taxpayers register with Escrow Taxes and select payment frequency; payments are held by the vendor and a file is transmitted to the treasurer’s office before the county’s tax due date, at which point the county uploads the receipts. If the escrowed payments exceed the final tax roll, a taxpayer may elect a refund or have the balance applied to next year; if escrow payments fall short, Escrow Taxes adjusts future payments as needed when the county finalizes the tax roll in December.

Treasurer Elliott said the program could help residents who struggle to pay large semiannual bills by spreading payments across the year. She noted roughly one-fifth of Fremont County property accounts have mortgage-company escrows (far lower than some counties), which makes the service potentially important locally. Elliott said the county will provide informational materials and a link; customer service and technical support will be handled by Escrow Taxes.

Board votes and reports: the board accepted Elliott’s public-trustee quarterly report (second quarter 2025) and her semiannual treasurer’s report during the meeting by recorded roll-call votes. The public-trustee report included foreclosure activity and case counts; Elliott reported foreclosures rose to 22 for the second quarter (from 17 in Q1), that the office has sold 16 foreclosures so far in the year and that some properties scheduled for sale include the Mercy Today building, a Super 8 motel and two mobile-home parks (sales dates subject to change).

What the county will do next: the treasurer’s office will post program details on the county website and social channels; Elliott provided the treasurer’s office phone number for county-level questions, while Escrow Taxes will handle technical customer-service inquiries.

Limitations and caveats: Elliott said the program’s fees are charged to taxpayers who opt in and that the county is not paying for the service. She also noted uncertainty about the status of a senior property-tax exemption and that taxpayers should confirm their individual tax amounts and exemptions on the assessor’s site or with the treasurer’s office.","Treasurer and public trustee Kathy Elliott briefed commissioners on a new monthly property tax payment option using Escrow Taxes; the county will not pay program costs and the service charges per-transaction fees paid by participating taxpayers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6590524,"Fremont County commissioners notify clerk of intent to pursue lodging-tax ballot measure to expand uses",1838,3412000,5250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5443584-6573b7217a098a3e6db00f71888845d0&start=3412&end=5250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5443584-6573b7217a098a3e6db00f71888845d0/thumbnail_3412000.jpg","/articles/6590524/Fremont-County/Colorado/Fremont-County-commissioners-notify-clerk-of-intent-to-pursue-lodging-tax-ballot-measure-to-expand-uses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590524-f11bfcf34e20f55b202578472c079b9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043373&Signature=T7PwkT7ALEK4gsDrScfiNIr7sS40guYycMARzQyTBIe1Z9aln8PIeYTPi0VSSox3XOZSk~BlzyAxOItKxtorgSH7icSc1IqW-rL1ywt3AKILn1-i37uuKoF3G7AqI43x4SSok8hxAPkKLbLnPFY-0IVsGr5pPxNIm7Kf8dFAVa4k41lgeWFskRRvejCaFwSyRHHoKhavD4ZKoZjyTKmOFpi9VYoxkWuNEFfTkcl9-Rp4Xl9Vweusx4jKmwI3d9VL4ZZi6fymj7QgJ~HdWoHnnstkWhHdR-G0RfJLlaFf60-MHmOn3eZOZTja1Y2yeHDElFgWJEvSmtbtkPEil7PTMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fremont County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to give written notice to the county clerk of their intent to place a lodging-tax ballot measure before voters, the board said during its July meeting.

The move authorizes formal development of a ballot question to increase the county’s lodging tax rate (currently 2%) and to specify additional permitted uses under House Bill 25-1247, the law that expanded allowable spending for lodging taxes. County Attorney Eric Bellas told the board HB 25-1247 adds a list of potential uses that can be included in a ballot measure, including housing and child care for tourism-related workforce, maintenance or improvements to public infrastructure, and “enhancing public safety measures” such as law enforcement, fire protection and emergency medical services.

Tourism council chair Adam Arnold urged the board to consider raising the tax to 6% (from the current 2%) to increase marketing and revenue continuity for the region’s tourism promotion. Arnold said the current 2% generates about $350,000 a year and that a 6% rate would produce roughly $1,050,000 annually. Arnold also said the council would like some of the additional funding to support “tourism improvement” items such as trailhead upgrades, porta-potty facilities and other visitor-experience investments.

Why it matters: lodging tax revenue is paid by visitors and is the primary dedicated funding source for tourism promotion. The board and tourism advocates framed the potential increase as a way to grow visitor-driven economic activity, while several commissioners said any campaign must explain to residents how the money will be used, and that infrastructure and public-safety impacts from greater visitation should be part of the discussion.

Board action and next steps: the board’s vote to notify the clerk is an initial, procedural step that preserves the option to put a finalized measure on a future ballot. County Attorney Bellas said the statute requires ballot language to list the additional uses a jurisdiction proposes to approve; the county’s staff and tourism council will continue drafting details and potential allocations. Commissioner comments during the meeting emphasized that county staff and funds will not be used to campaign for or against the measure (the board noted county dollars cannot be spent on election advocacy).

What was decided at the meeting: Commissioner Kevin Grantham moved to give written notice of intent; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with Grantham, Commissioner Bell and Commissioner McFaul recorded as voting aye.

What remains undecided: the board has not settled on a final tax rate, specific allocation percentages, or which of the new statutory uses will be included on a ballot question. Commissioners and tourism stakeholders signaled further public discussions, budget work and outreach will be required before any final ballot language is adopted.

Context and caveats: County Attorney Bellas warned that the constitutionally required ballot (TABOR) language must be carefully drafted; that language does not distinguish who ultimately bears the cost (visitors versus local taxpayers), which will be an issue in any campaign. Commissioners also noted some lodging businesses favor stronger oversight of how revenue is spent because they collect and remit the tax.","The Fremont County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to notify the county clerk of their intent to place a lodging-tax measure on the ballot after hearing from the tourism council about expanding marketing and possible additional spending categories allowed under House Bill 25-1247.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fremont County Commissioner Bell announces she will not seek a fifth term, will finish current term

Fremont County treasurer launches monthly property-tax payment option through private escrow service

Fremont County commissioners notify clerk of intent to pursue lodging-tax ballot measure to expand uses