Special session ends with a new property tax deal

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Good morning, Sunriser readers! August is drawing to a close, and with it goes the height of the summer season — the good, the bad and the ozone. Next week on Sept. 4 environment reporter Michael Booth hosts an online discussion with Colorado’s air pollution control director and a top regional air quality official to review the 2024 summer.

If learning and creating a more livable state sounds appealing, join water reporter Shannon Mullane on Sept. 14 for an in-person panel discussion in Durango about the future of water in southwestern Colorado followed by an Animas River cleanup.

Now, the news.

THE NEWS

HOUSING

Colorado lawmakers pass property tax deal that aims to stop November ballot measures

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The four-day special legislative session to address property tax cuts came to a close Thursday, with lawmakers reaching an agreement that provides small property tax cuts to homeowners, expands commercial tax cuts for businesses and limits future property tax growth. The deal was negotiated prior to the session, creating controversy in the lead-up. Brian Eason and Jesse Paul break down the new tax deal.

READ MORE

• Colorado short-term rental owners, advocates rally against “heavy-handed regulation” from lawmakers. Short-term rental owners breathed a small sigh of relief when the special session drew to a close without imposing further regulations, but they are staying proactive with local rallies, educational campaigns and lobbying plans. Jason Blevins has more.
• Judge dismisses most of Douglas County’s lawsuit against state board that blocked property tax relief plan. A steep increase in property values in Douglas County led the county commission to attempt an across-the-board reduction last year, but a state board blocked it. The county responded in January by suing. Jesse Paul has updates and implications from the case.

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WATER

Poop, pee, cocaine! People bring more than just tubes to Colorado rivers over Labor Day weekend

If your long weekend plans include floating down one of Colorado’s many creeks and streams, you may want to take a look at a new research report about tubing’s impact on a popular stretch of Clear Creek in Golden. As Shannon Mullane reports, tubing is still on the table, just be considerate of the creek.

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• Feel like writing a few rules protecting Colorado wetlands? The state wants you. Last year a U.S. Supreme Court decision wiped out a critical set of safeguards contained in the Clean Water Act. Now a Colorado commission is looking to create a new set of water rules, and they want public input. Jerd Smith has more. 
• The Outsider ☀️ Kayakers and rafters are racing through Gore Canyon again thanks to paddling entrepreneur and innovative insurance policy. Gore Canyon is one in a handful of high-caliber whitewater races canceled in recent years because insurance companies were unwilling to work with the event. As Jason Blevins explores, the race’s revival last weekend bodes well for whitewater competitions nationally.

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EDUCATION

Roughly 2,700 fewer Colorado students applied for financial aid after FAFSA form change

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The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA, is a crucial step for many students in funding their higher education. But a number of technological challenges — some as small as writing “Street” instead of “St.”in address — made filling out last year’s form extra difficult, and ultimately led to a decrease in filed FAFSAs. Tatiana Flowers has more.

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• How did kids in your Colorado school and district perform on standardized tests? This map breaks it down. New student test data released Thursday by the Colorado Department of Education gives educators, school and district leaders and state officials a deeper look into where students are rebounding in reading and math coming out of the pandemic. Erica Breunlin has the details. 
• Fact Brief ☀️Did Deion Sanders predict his arrival at the University of Colorado decades earlier by calling Folsom Field “my house?” A video circulating on social media shows a young Coach Prime taking a 1994 interview in front of a Buffs logo. Justin George looks into the video’s validity. 

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ELECTION 2024

Colorado voters will decide whether to overhaul election system, adopt statewide ranked choice voting

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The tug-of-war over ranked choice voting continues, with Initiative 310 qualifying Thursday to be on the November ballot. The qualification means voters will decide whether or not to shift Colorado’s election system to one in which voters rank candidates from all parties in order of preference. But even if it passes, the change could take years to implement. Jesse Paul reports.

READ MORE

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THE COLORADO REPORT

• Racist signs targeting migrants, Kamala Harris posted at Denver, Aurora bus stops. “I wish I could say I were surprised, but in a year when a Black woman could become POTUS, those with hate in their heart are going to coordinate these kinds of atrocious, expensive campaigns to stir division,” Denver City Councilwoman Shontel Lewis said.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• Mayors of Denver and Aurora say exaggerated migrant gang coverage creating “hysteria.” Aurora’s Mike Coffman and Denver’s Mike Johnston tell 9News’ Kyle Clark that the Fox News-flamed frenzy of coverage over Venezuelan gang activity is being overblown, though police are working on it.
  — 9News
• Colorado Springs Ford Amphitheater agrees to changes to address noise complaints. Less than a month after opening, the Springs’ shiny new concert venue has agreed to keep it down a bit.
  — KRCC
• Colorado man fights IRS for more than a year after being mistakenly declared dead. “Last time I checked, and in the immortal words of Monty Python, ‘I’m not dead yet!’” Here’s how Coloradan Phil Anderson is handling a massive mix-up by the IRS.
  — Denver 7

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• Gun violence in Colorado, U.S. is a crisis that demands a public health response.  There is a game plan to build a safer future, and we all have a role to play through a public health approach
  — Jonathan McMillan, Director of firearm-related harm and violence prevention at Trailhead Institute 

CARTOONS

Jim Morrissey illustrates how the state Republican central committee moved to oust its chairman, Dave Williams, but the controversial and polarizing figure isn’t going quietly.

CARTOON

In “What’d I Miss?” when Ossie presses Myra on why she doesn’t often talk about her faith, she explains her frustration with the actions of some “church folks.”

CARTOON

Drew Litton takes note of the unusually large den of rattlesnakes recently discovered in Colorado. Unless he’s talking about something else entirely …

CARTOON

The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy and submit columns, suggest writers or provide feedback at opinion@coloradosun.com.

Podcast Playlist

CONVERSATION

Each weekday The Daily Sun-Up podcast brings you a bit of Colorado history, headlines and a thoughtful conversation. We keep it tight so you can quickly listen, or stack up a few and tune in at your leisure. You can download the Sun-Up for free in your favorite podcasting app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or RSS to plug into your app. This week, our range includes those pesky property taxes and mosquitos.

• A bumpy special session on Colorado property taxes. State lawmakers wrapped up their second property tax special session. Political reporters Jesse Paul and Brian Eason discuss how the process was playing out under the golden dome.
  LISTEN
• More than just the news. Our marketing and events specialist Kristina Pritchett reviews events our reporters are hosting this month. If you care about the air around Denver or the waterways near Durango, check them out. And remember, SunFest is right around the corner.
  LISTEN
• What will the for-sale sign at Eldora mean for Colorado skiers? The Boulder County ski area went on the market recently, and now the speculation begins. Outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has more on the move and who could be the next owner.
  LISTEN
• Minimum wages in Colorado look different. The cost of living in this state continues to be more than many other places, and our minimum wage reflects that. Business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down why, and how some think it shouldn’t be on the employer to keep up.
  LISTEN
• Mosquitos and clean water on the mind. Our Temperature team of John Ingold and Michael Booth gets into the latest on Colorado’s West Nile virus season and a would-be water treatment plant that needs a little “de-Brucing” help to get built.
  LISTEN

🗣️ Remember, you can ask Siri, Alexa or Google to “play the Daily Sun-Up podcast” and we’ll play right on your smart speaker. As always we appreciate your feedback and comments at podcast@coloradosun.com.

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See you in September.

— Parker & the whole staff of The Sun

Corrections & Clarifications

Notice something wrong? The Colorado Sun has an ethical responsibility to fix all factual errors. Request a correction by emailing corrections@coloradosun.com.

Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.