Letters: Stop the “inflation erosion” of Colorado’s property tax break for seniors

Tax exemption doesn’t keep up with valuation

I’m 82 years old. I’ve lived in the same house for almost 30 years. I receive a partial property tax exemption every year. When this program started in 2004, my house was worth about $150,000. The property tax exemption was introduced at $100,000. What a great deal! Today, my house is worth just over $460,000. An increase of about 200%. And today, 20-plus years later, the exemption is $100,000, an increase of about, uh … ZERO! What’s up with that?

Why wouldn’t the exemption rate at least keep up with inflation or somehow be tied to your home’s value?

I urge you to contact your state legislator about this state of affairs. There are websites you can use to find your legislators: one of them is leg.colorado.gov, and there are others. I have written them myself a few times, and they do reply (sometimes) — “Well, yes, that is something we should maybe look into,” etc. Maybe if enough of us seniors bring this to their attention, something will get done.

Bruce Badger, Loveland

What is winning for CU Buffs?

Re: “Prime is face of university that can’t afford to lose him,” Jan. 28 sports commentary

It seems CU is facing quite a dilemma. Do they want a winning coach or a winning football team? It doesn’t seem possible to have both. However, in this age where the noun “influencer” is also a job title, perhaps the writing is already written on the Facebook wall.

Bob Priddy, Westminster

Get real about energy codes’ benefits vs. costs

Re: “Senate GOP takes aim at fees, regulations,” Jan. 15 news story

The story reported exaggerated claims about the costs and values of energy codes. It’s no surprise that the National Association of Home Builders and certain politicians would inflate and exaggerate the cost estimates for building safer, sturdier, healthier, and more energy-efficient homes — it’s in the home builders’ financial interest to roll back building codes so they can build as cheaply as possible while still selling for as much as possible. It is surprising that some of our elected officials in the statehouse so readily accept this spin and can’t tell the difference between builder profitability and home affordability.

I’m an architect who designs all-electric buildings and energy-efficient homes. The real costs of new homes aren’t determined by the building codes – even those requiring more energy efficiency. They are determined by supply and demand, land costs, labor costs, location, school quality, neighborhood attractiveness, and amenities.

Rolling back building energy codes actually makes home affordability worse by increasing the utility bills we have to shell out month after month for the entire lifespan of each new home.

We want our elected officials to address the root causes of our housing affordability crisis – not fall for overly simplistic red herrings.

Ron Bennett, Boulder

Get the Rockies in the hunt

Re: “Rockies say they’re “closer” to turning corner this year,” Jan. 26 sports story

It’s time Rockies management stop boo-hooing about not being able to compete financially against the Dodgers and Padres. Fans aren’t asking ownership to spend that kind of money. What fans want is pretty simple: Be competitive for the lowest wild card spot in September.