Clear Creek commissioners review draft ballot language for emergency services funding; TABOR waiver remains open question

Clear Creek County commissioners on Aug. 5 reviewed draft ballot language that would raise property-tax revenue to support the county’s fire and emergency medical services and discussed whether a separate, concurrent vote will be required to waive a new state limit on retained tax growth.

The work session centered on two related questions: the precise text that will appear on a ballot question asking voters to approve a higher mill levy for the Emergency Services General Improvement District, and whether the board should also ask voters to waive a 2024 state statutory limit — commonly described in the meeting as a 5.25% annual revenue-growth cap (10.5% over two appraisal years). County staff said the state statute is not easily combined with the standard TABOR waiver language and, if the board wants to retain the full revenue produced by a mill-levy increase even when assessed values jump, a separate ballot measure or a different…