Jennifer’s plan in brief: Plain-English budgets, strong reserves, a long-range forecast residents can read, and a 2027 tax holiday decided with its effect on 2028, parks, and planned projects shown first.
What neighbors are saying
In September 2025, a resident told Council the City was in an excellent financial position and recommended reducing taxes.
The facts so far
Your bill. The average 2027 property tax bill in the Village is estimated at $26,000. The City’s share is about 15%, or roughly $3,800. The rest goes to public schools, Arapahoe County, South Metro Fire Rescue, and other districts.
The proposed 2027 tax holiday. Council has directed staff to build a one-year property tax holiday into the proposed 2027 budget. The City’s 14.722 mills would drop to zero for 2027, the General Fund would absorb about $8.4 million, and a transfer would keep the Parks Fund whole. The City’s mill levy returns to 14.722 in 2028.
Not final yet. The public hearing on the 2027 budget is scheduled for November 17, 2026, and final consideration for December 14, 2026.
Track record. The City has not raised property taxes since 2005, when the Parks Fund was established, and General Fund balances are projected to stay above the City’s reserve policies.
Listen
Before the December vote, an open budget conversation where residents can ask about the tax holiday, the reserves, and planned projects.
Inform
A two-page “Where your money goes” summary in the Crier every budget season, covering police, parks, roads, administration, and what is changing.
Show what the tax holiday means for 2028 and beyond, including Parks Fund balances and planned projects such as Quincy Farm and the Hopkins House restoration, before the final vote.
Keep the City’s Long-Range Financial Forecast, and the assumptions behind it, easy for residents to find and read.
Act
Support the 2027 tax holiday, done carefully. I support it, provided the final budget shows it is responsible, with the effect on 2028, parks funding, and planned capital projects made public before the December 14 vote.
Protect the reserves. Keep reserves at or above the City’s adopted policy levels, and explain any draw in advance.
Every project with a price tag and a payoff. Major spending, from cell coverage to traffic projects to building restoration, should come with costs, alternatives, and a clear statement of what residents get.
Respect TABOR and your vote. No new taxes without voter approval, as Colorado’s Constitution requires.
What this means for your street
The same careful budget keeps the parks, trails, safe streets, and community events you use every day funded, and protects the reserves this Village has built. Every dollar is yours, whether it helps pay for a child’s sports season through the recreation reimbursement or keeps up the trail you walk every morning. I have spent my career with complex finances, from a major accounting firm to the CFO’s office to the courtroom, and I will read every line and show you where your money goes before Council votes.