REALTOR® Day at the Capitol is THIS WEDNESDAY February 13th
We are so excited at the response for REALTOR® Day this year with 185 registrants so far. Directly from the History Colorado website, here is the information on parking:
Visitors have several parking options. The Civic Center Cultural Complex garage is located directly across the street from the History Colorado Center at 12th Avenue and Broadway. Enter on 12th Avenue, just west of Broadway. Parking rates, which start at $1 per hour, are posted inside the entrance. Electric vehicle charging stations are available on 3rd floor. Charging at these stations is currently free with paid admission to the garage. If you have questions, please contact the Parking Manager at 303-607-9093.
If you are planning on joining us prior to our REALTOR® Day luncheon for a REALTOR® Party update and workshop, please remember to RSVP to jdearien@coloradoREALTORS.com. For more details on the full-day event, please click here.
You should have received an email regarding a donation to RPAC for $99+ giving you a chance to win a two-night stay at the Broadmoor Hotel. If you cannot join us at REALTOR Day, please consider entering this raffle. Click here to donate, and please remember to use your email address associated with your NRDS number to complete this form. The deadline for entry into this raffle online is Tuesday, February 12th at 11:59PM, however you may bring a donation to the event with you as well. Contact Jaclyn at jdearien@coloradoREALTORS.comor 303-785-7121 with any questions.
CAR Supports Business Personal Property Tax Exemption
SB13-136, Concerning a tax exemption for business personal property with a local government opt out by, Sen. Mark Scheffel (R-Parker), Rep. Christ Holbert (R-Parker) , and Rep. Daniel Kagan (D-Cherry Hills Village), was recently introduced. Under current law, business personal property begins to be taxed the year after it is first used. For example, new personal property first used in 2013 will appear on the tax rolls in 2014, and have taxes paid on it in 2015. In 2012, locally assessed business personal property represented about $7.4 billion in statewide assessed value, or roughly 8.2 percent of all assessed value. Based on 2011 average mill levies, this value translates into approximately $269 million in local, non-school property taxes that will be collected in 2013.
Under current law, the property tax exemption for business personal property on a single personal property schedule is $7,000 in actual value for property tax years 2013 and 2014, and an inflation adjusted amount every two years thereafter. Beginning with property tax year 2015, this bill increases the exemption to $25,000 for all local governments, excluding school districts, adjusted biennially for inflation thereafter. Local governments may opt out of the increased exemption, in which case the existing exemption would remain unchanged. The increased exemption does not apply to state-assessed properties.
Because CAR’s 2013 Legislative Policy Statements call for supporting a reduction of the business personal property tax, the LPC elected to support SB 136.
NAR Fracking White Paper
NAR commissioned a White Paper which presents a comprehensive discussion of the development of hydraulic fracturing, its many facets, and its ramifications for the real estate market. The White Paper will help the reader become more conversant in the issues that real estate professionals may face when assisting clients in buying or selling property in areas where fracking is happening. To view this document, click here.
New NAR Advertisement
Beginning this week NAR began running a print ad in the Capitol Hill Publications Roll Call andNational Journal Daily the ad will be the first in a series to educate members of Congress and Congressional Staff about the important role FHA has played for homeowners looking for safe and affordable mortgage products. The print ads are running in advance of a hearing to be conducted by the House Financial Services Committee: “Examining the Proper Role of the Federal Housing Administration in our Mortgage Insurance Market” For additional information on the hearing visit: http://financialservices.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=318278
Transit Alliance Spring 2013 Citizen’s Academy
The Transit Alliance is hosting their annual spring 2013 Citizen’s Academy from March 6, 2013-April 17, 2013. This is a great opportunity to discuss transportation, community development, and sustainability in Colorado. The class is limited to 50 participants, so please get your applications in to take part! More information, as well as the application, can be found here, and the deadline for applying is Friday, February 15th at 5PM.
Meet the Legislators
Justin Everett, Republican, comes from House District 22. He resides in Littleton. He has a Law Degree from the University of Denver, and a MBA Entrepreneurship and International business from CU-Denver. He serves on the Education, Public Health Care and Human Services, and Transportation and Energy Committees.
Tony Exum, Democrat, joins the House from District 17. He has called Colorado Springs home for over 35 years, where he served as battalion chief in the Colorado Springs Fired Department. He is serving this year on the Business, Labor, Economic, & Workforce Development and the Local Government Committees.
Mike Foote, Democrat, is from House District 12. He lives in Lafayette with his wife and two daughters, and is a former deputy District Attorney with the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office. He currently serves on the Finance and State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committees.
Leroy Garcia, Democrat, serves as the Representative from District 46. Leroy, along with his wife and two children, live on the south side of Pueblo. He is a former member of the Pueblo City Council, as well as teaches emergency medical services at Pueblo Community College. He is on the Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources, and Local Government Committees.
Joann Ginal, Democrat, joins the legislature as the Representative from House District 52. She lives in Fort Collins, where she is a master naturalist. She serves on the Health, Insurance & Environment, as well as the Local Government Committees.
Stephen Humphrey, Republican, is from House District 48. He and his wife, with their one child, live in Severance, and he is a military veteran and former police officer. He most recently worked as a Mental Health Counselor for the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. He is on both the Health, Insurance & Environment Committee and the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee.
Colorado REALTORS® 