The standard mill levy for 2012 taxes due in 2013 went up from 71.307 mills (2011 taxes due in 2012) to 84.071 mills, an increase of 12.764 mills (note: some areas of Denver with special districts will have a different total mill levy from the standard). The reason for the increase is:

• In the November, 2012 Election - Denver voters overwhelmingly approved the passage of referred questions 2A for the City and County of Denver, and 3A and 3B for Denver Public Schools.

City & County of Denver Mill Levy Increase
• Question 2A eliminated the requirement that the City and County of Denver return property tax revenue collected in excess of constitutional limitations on revenue, also known as TABOR. For 2012 property taxes due in 2013, the City will reduce the TABOR credited mills by 4.0 mills (in other words, a credit that you received last year, which reduced your tax bill, has now been eliminated).
• The City and County of Denver mill Levy also went up by .507 mills due to previous voter approved increases to bond funds, and standard TABOR allowed refund, and abatement recaptures.

Denver Public Schools Increase
• Question 3A increases the Denver Public School levy by 4.86 mills.
• Question 3B increases Denver Public School debt by $466 million and increases the District bond levy to pay the additional debt (increase = 2.75 mills).
• Additionally, the mill levy for Denver Public Schools increased by .613 mills due to standard TABOR allowed recaptures.

Other
• The Urban Drainage Portion of your tax bill increased (standard TABOR allowed increase) by .034 mills.

All Increases Combined
• For residential properties the combined mill levy increase of 12.764 mills results in additional taxes of approximately $1.02 for every $1,000 of actual value.

Probably not.
97% of Denver properties have the same 2012 assessed value as they did in 2011. The remaining 6,600 property owners were notified of their changes in May 2012.

One way to compare 2012 and 2011 assessments is to visit www.denvergov.org/assessor. Click on ‘Real Property Search’. Type in an address, schedule number or owner name and select your property from the list. From the property’s summary page, click on ‘Assessment’ and then choose the ‘Assessment Data’ tab. Current and prior year values are shown on the Assessment Data page.

 Assessed Value x Mill Levy = Property Tax Due

• A Mill = $1 for every $1,000 of value


• Assessed value for residential property = 7.96% of actual value


• Assessed value for commercial property = 29% of actual value

Funds retained by the City pursuant to 2A will be used for the following purposes:

• Increase Denver Public Library hours to 48 hrs/week


• Provide free access to all Denver students to city recreation centers and pools


• Increase parks maintenance


• Restore funding for low-income child-care programs


• Restore funding for after-school programs


• Hire over 100 city police and fire recruits


• Replace aging fire and police vehicles


• Pave 300 lane miles of local streets that are in poor condition


• Increase the rebate for low-income senior and disabled residents


• Increase funding to attract new and expanding businesses


• Eliminate furloughs for city employees

For 3A, the proceeds will be used for the following purposes:

• Restoring and enhancing art, music, physical education and other enrichment programs
• Increasing instructional support services such as: tutoring, small group instruction, counseling, and community and parent engagement
• Providing computers, classroom technology and rigorous curricular materials in support of 21st century learning
• Expanding early childhood education and full-day kindergarten

For 3B, the proceeds will be used for the following purposes:

• Maintaining, repairing and renovating existing school buildings
• Addressing critical health, safety and security concerns in district school buildings and improving their environmental sustainability
• Providing technology for 21st century learning
• Constructing additions and making improvements to existing schools and constructing new buildings to reduce overcrowding
• Accommodating the expansion of early childhood education and full-day kindergarten

Questions about 2A?
Call (720) 913-9300
Questions about 3A and 3B? Email:Denver Public Schools
View a printable version of the 2012 Property Taxes Due in 2013.