[{"_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",6475057,"mediaKeyId","5737922-db1eeaf01d3099c4ea80c3d3ce62af2b","parentId",5737922,"title","Public commenter urges transparent process, stronger qualifications for Pikes Peak Library trustees","audioSeconds",168,"startMs",2009000,"endMs",2177000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5737922-db1eeaf01d3099c4ea80c3d3ce62af2b&start=2009&end=2177","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5737922-db1eeaf01d3099c4ea80c3d3ce62af2b/thumbnail_2009000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6475057/El-Paso-County/Colorado/Public-commenter-urges-transparent-process-stronger-qualifications-for-Pikes-Peak-Library-trustees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475057-07fc6553f47a14dd542cbabca1e4f624/orig.mp4?Expires=1775459502&Signature=CakkoI~OEvx8l2spfrQvS6kfd-o6ihXg9NupPcdUmjzMSuA5QY9RQq3Lt-qFWo4vuPPqYKcBuA6FRJLKISIywCCFTCL1wrwFKXYShhyh6icwWBGvW8K-fNCspUZx6lXrWcvcLwHPCBGp-rPHfeqrv48HeamC77IhVcJ1PRkW9dxmeDGn81mHJmKd3f7sru87IBJ8MDaIWYmjLVoFKHht3ByJAiCIBQo80tmpaVyjk6FWML-RBDm~xU92Kognn3ZLlgjJDCWaDo2RoHD9WKtCFwo4xM3dca7IWBKVvEzJ1dKrGuUOwRFocg7aJyN1pSHxpQ8D8tyS0kqLcNMsNxeiPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","El Paso County","date","2025-09-09T15:32:38Z","article","A public commenter addressed the board during the meeting's general public-comment period to urge action on trustee appointments for the Pikes Peak Library District.

The commenter stated the library's joint appointment committee had failed to meet for months and that Dora Gonzales's seat had been vacant for more than eight months. The speaker said Debbie English's term ends in a few months and that the process to replace her should have begun earlier. The commenter asked the county to establish a transparent, mutually agreed process with a clear rubric so every applicant is interviewed by each committee member.

The speaker emphasized that trustees should have strong financial and board experience to oversee a $40,000,000-plus budget, referenced the recent closure of the Rockrimmon Library, and urged the county to nominate balanced, qualified trustees who will preserve free access to information.

The commenter described frustration with the pace and apparent lack of shared qualifications used by the committee and asked commissioners to restore public confidence by completing the appointment process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners Meeting 9-9-2025 - Resumed","oneSentenceSummary","A public commenter told the board the joint appointment committee for the Pikes Peak Library District has delayed filling trustee vacancies, called for a transparent rubric and full interviews for applicants, and urged qualified nominees to oversee the library's $40 million-plus budget following recent service changes.","taxTitle","El Paso County, Colorado","taxId",5790,"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},6475062,"County assessor reports 7,906 appeals filed for 2025; office to audit nonfilers rather than immediately assess penalties",125,722000,847000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5737922-db1eeaf01d3099c4ea80c3d3ce62af2b&start=722&end=847","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5737922-db1eeaf01d3099c4ea80c3d3ce62af2b/thumbnail_722000.jpg","/articles/6475062/El-Paso-County/Colorado/County-assessor-reports-7906-appeals-filed-for-2025-office-to-audit-nonfilers-rather-than-immediately-assess-penalties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475062-a52bffdf551490a8d052ca67c72f7a7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775459502&Signature=Q8Xc7BwTfRIfHXOUZgNiTliHt2KJXzj3nZY54cHXeRVkVg5kvq7uebyNlF8X~rLgM3VXWethIbum6g9XTFZVTW~QpcVTbOLeAQEN96a1z4ssjlFYawy5hC6SfQ3crWqGe87fPvPVQJySO4vlYFSaNPxRC89N7SOM6dZ0lOt0eW9mjNYNTgcMzQjIYyQeTnPFtjM~E0FPkenKq3TxEiscJ~jWZ~8hg0pT3GnFLBZpva2pmCjyAMdlIMHTb6c6cQHNx92n8~A9u4Xc24d~Jp0Ef2wPFFUh~IO5-lFNsghHG6fP0IaxVFqHQVMCnX5SX8JQPVxGswDfDsqztImc26N8mQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mark Flucher, El Paso County assessor, presented the Board of Equalization's annual report and told commissioners the report is required by statute to disclose appeal information and related values.

Flucher said 7,906 property appeals were filed for 2025, far lower than the roughly 33,000 appeals filed two years earlier. He reported that 46% of appeals were adjusted this year; the office's long-term average since 2011 is about 55%, and the highest adjustment year was 2011 at 71%.

Flucher said the median adjustment amount this year was about $67,000. He said the 2025 numbers were influenced by commercial and industrial property appeals and that a new valuation system and additional income information from business owners improved the assessor's ability to identify discrepancies and make adjustments.

He reported that 41% of appeals were filed by tax agents (as opposed to individual property owners), and that nearly half of those agent-filed appeals came from a single out-of-state company. Flucher said the office will present the full data and supporting files electronically to commissioners rather than a large printed packet.

On personal property declarations, Flucher told the board that 841 taxable businesses failed to return the required declaration. Although the statute allows for penalties, Flucher said his office will first audit those businesses to confirm they still exist and verify filings rather than immediately applying penalties.

Commissioners had no substantive questions during the presentation, and the assessor concluded by offering the underlying data for commissioners to review.","El Paso County Assessor Mark Flucher presented the Board of Equalization annual report: 7,906 appeals filed in 2025 (down from 33,000 two years ago), 46% of appeals adjusted, median adjustment about $67,000; 841 taxable businesses did not return personal property declarations and will be audited rather than immediately penalized.",{"_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},6475067,"El Paso County proclaims Constitution Day and Citizenship Day for 2025",103,903000,1006000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5737922-db1eeaf01d3099c4ea80c3d3ce62af2b&start=903&end=1006","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5737922-db1eeaf01d3099c4ea80c3d3ce62af2b/thumbnail_903000.jpg","/articles/6475067/El-Paso-County/Colorado/El-Paso-County-proclaims-Constitution-Day-and-Citizenship-Day-for-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475067-d05e0af61e9fd40126e15b4b2bdae64f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775459502&Signature=jZBh5xYSU1X5nvi7iTwwMlPIWxevvUilWoNuRtVs-f2sV180HllIaBv0PAodcSTY~hgoAS7IemLTjBufPecSrVSfyY74DGO2E126FDCALQwlURbU2z1MxSHyFl8~ti0rJOmImZkuhlerdeEVZHmTxwjquWy7fxuyLY6RAH5rNmKQH3M68UweIt0jOb8zEKQOs22yfSMOVQjH0djFlfqKoAieU0qcpwHsxiZ0PNlqo7UXg6JOPh9U8y5wdcy4PvraLCvAycb3H47JkY7114CSGMtThC6EgXA0z3EgiVbH0IgkPNyel8nEftUY406Zvv2U7tU4b~XRxG7r~1ml5dPvRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners on the morning of the meeting adopted a proclamation recognizing Constitution Day and Citizenship Day for 2025.

Commissioner Corey Applegate read the proclamation to the board and guests, saying he had visited Independence Hall and reflecting on the document's historical importance. The proclamation text cited the 1787 convention in Philadelphia and noted that the law establishing Constitution Day was amended in 2004 to include recognition of newly naturalized U.S. citizens.

Students from Liberty Tree Academy's senior class then recited the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. One student read: \"We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.\" Commissioners and board leaders praised the students and discussed the value of civic education.

Vice Chair Holly Williams and other commissioners described the proclamation as an opportunity to remind residents of the Constitution's role in local government and public service. Commissioner Lauren Nelson and others thanked the students for participating.

The board passed the proclamation by a roll-call vote, with the board recording five ayes. (The meeting record shows the roll call produced a unanimous vote; the mover and seconder were not specified in the spoken record.)

A brief recess followed for a photograph with the students and board members.","The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners adopted a proclamation recognizing Constitution Day and Citizenship Day for 2025; students from Liberty Tree Academy recited the Preamble and commissioners spoke about the document's civic importance. The proclamation passed by a 5-0 roll call.","actionData","errors"]

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Public commenter urges transparent process, stronger qualifications for Pikes Peak Library trustees

County assessor reports 7,906 appeals filed for 2025; office to audit nonfilers rather than immediately assess penalties

El Paso County proclaims Constitution Day and Citizenship Day for 2025