Estes Park trustees approve water district inclusion ordinance after tax questions from resident

The Estes Park Town Board voted to approve Ordinance 10-26, adding certain town properties to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. The ordinance covers properties within Estes Park that are not already included in the broader district, a step town officials said is separate from inclusion in the related subdistrict.

The board held a public hearing before the vote, where West Wonderview resident Carl Cross said he had received notice about the change and worried it would cost him about $700 a year. During the hearing, Mayor Gary Hall and another town representative clarified that the district levy is 1 mill, which Hall said works out to about $60 annually on a home valued at $1 million, not $700.

Town representatives also told Cross that some properties in Estes Park have been paying the 1-mill levy since 1968 and that other properties were added over time. They said inclusion in the district also requires payment of back taxes to 1938, but the town would cover those costs for the properties being added under the ordinance. Cross thanked officials for the explanation and said he was "happy with it."

The district inclusion process still requires court approval. Town discussions also noted that, unlike the subdistrict matter, inclusion in the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District involves the Bureau of Reclamation because Colorado-Big Thompson Project water rights are federally owned.

After closing the public hearing, Hall called for a motion on Ordinance 10-26. A motion to approve was made and seconded, and the board then voted to adopt it.