Vote yes on 6A, the tax initiative that will support the Fraser River Valley Housing Partnership.

People on a fixed income should look into the Colorado Homestead Exemption, as it could exempt you from many taxes including those being collected by 6A. If you are on a fixed income and you think this property tax will impact you negatively, consider that as rents go to the stratosphere in Grand County, so go wages, trickling down into the cost of everything from buying groceries, meals and coffee to getting car and home repairs done.

Tired of businesses and essential services being understaffed, open for limited hours, having long checkout lines or offering limited menus and services? Housing is usually the culprit behind these problems.

Why property taxes? Two-thirds of all homes are owned by second homeowners, making 6A an equitable way to make sure not only locals are paying for this initiative but second homeowners too.

Property taxes provide a consistent source of revenue that the Fraser River Valley Housing Authority will need that other taxes cannot provide. Also with the limitations of TABOR and Gallagher, it is unlawful to spend some taxes on this initiative.

Some say this is a Winter Park problem; why is Granby getting involved? Granby had almost double the amount of new single-family homes built last year than Winter Park and Fraser combined. Granby businesses are seeing limited hours and services due to lack of employees because of a lack of housing. I have spoken with three separate parties that won’t start a business in Granby for fear of not being able to get / retain employees due to housing issues. The population of Granby can double on busy weekends with visitors. Granby sales tax collections have doubled from 2019 to 2022.

Ed Raegner
Grand County business owner and resident