You've probably seen the signs. They pop up every few years like clockwork across Golden, Lakewood, and Arvada. Bold letters, high stakes, and a lot of confusing talk about "caps" and "refunds." We’re talking about Jefferson County Ballot Issue 1A.
Honestly, the name sounds like a snooze-fest. But in November 2024, it became a massive turning point for the county. After voters said "no thanks" in 2019 and 2022, the third time ended up being the charm. Jefferson County finally got the green light to "de-Bruce."
But what does that actually mean for your wallet? Basically, it’s about the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR. This 1992 state law is a bit of a Colorado legend. It puts a hard ceiling on how much tax money the government can keep. If they collect more than the limit—calculated by a mix of inflation and local growth—they have to give it back to you.
Why the County Was Desperate
Jeffco officials were sounding the alarm for months. They weren’t just asking for a few extra bucks for a new park. They were staring down a $20 million to $30 million hole in the 2025 budget.
The logic was simple: the world is getting more expensive, but the revenue cap was stuck in the past. When the pandemic hit in 2020, revenue dipped. Because of how the formula works, that lower number became the new "base." It essentially punished the county for a bad year, even when the economy bounced back.
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The $22 Debate
The big argument from the "Yes" side was that the individual refunds were tiny. We're talking an average of $22 per filer. Proponents argued that for the price of a couple of burritos, you could fund the Sheriff’s department, fix the potholes on your street, and keep the jail from closing floors.
On the flip side, the "No" crowd didn't see it as "just $22." To them, Jefferson County Ballot Issue 1A was a permanent "blank check." They pointed out that while the tax rate didn't go up, the total amount you pay effectively does because you aren't getting that refund back. For business owners, that "small" amount scales up quickly.
What Jefferson County Ballot Issue 1A Actually Changes
Now that it has passed, the "cap" is gone. Permanently. The county can now keep all the property tax revenue it collects at its current mill levy.
This is a huge deal for local infrastructure. If you've driven around South Jeffco lately, you know the roads aren't exactly pristine. The county has earmarked these "extra" funds for very specific buckets:
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- Public Safety: Think wildfire mitigation and keeping the DA’s office staffed.
- Infrastructure: Fixing bridges and finally tackling that backlog of road repairs.
- Mental Health: Funding for first responders who handle addiction and crisis calls.
The Nuance Most People Miss
A lot of folks thought this would get rid of TABOR entirely. It doesn’t. You still get to vote on any future tax rate increases. If the county wants to hike the actual percentage you pay, they still have to come to you with their hat in hand.
What changed is the "retention." The county only gets about 24 cents of every dollar you pay in property taxes (the rest goes to schools and special districts). Before 1A, if property values spiked—as they have—the county had to give back some of that 24 cents. Now, they keep the whole slice.
Looking at the 2026 Budget
We are already seeing the ripples. The 2026 budget adoption shows a shift in how resources are allocated. Instead of planning for "doomsday cuts," departments are actually looking at long-term maintenance.
Critics like the Common Sense Institute have noted that even though the population in Jeffco has dipped slightly (down 0.7% since 2021), the cost of providing services has skyrocketed due to 18-20% inflation. That's the core of the friction. Is the government being wasteful, or is it just the reality of a more expensive world?
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The "De-Brucing" Trend
Jeffco isn't an island. For a long time, it was one of the few counties left in Colorado that still followed the strict TABOR limits. Most cities and many other counties "de-Bruced" years ago.
The 2024 vote was a signal that even the more fiscally conservative parts of the Denver metro area are feeling the squeeze. When people see the Sheriff’s department threatening to close jail beds, it usually moves the needle more than a $20 check in the mail.
Actionable Steps for Jeffco Residents
Since the money is now staying in the county coffers, it's your job to make sure it's spent where they promised.
- Watch the Citizens’ Advisory Committee: As part of the 1A pitch, the county promised oversight. Check the Jefferson County website for meeting minutes to see where the retention funds are actually going.
- Review Your Property Tax Statement: Look at the "County" line item. You'll see the mill levy hasn't changed, but the total amount might be higher because your home's value went up.
- Report Infrastructure Issues: The county specifically cited road repairs as a priority for 1A funds. If your street is a mess, use the county's reporting tools to put that new revenue to work.
- Stay Informed on 2026 Budget Hearings: This is where the rubber meets the road. Public hearings are your chance to ask why a certain program is getting 1A funds while another is lagging.
The era of Jeffco TABOR refunds is effectively over. Whether that results in a safer, smoother county or just a bigger government is something we’ll be watching closely in the next two years.