Amendment G: Modify Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities

Amendment G—because nothing says “thrilling ballot initiative” like property tax exemptions and government paperwork. Let’s break it down for you, so you can dazzle your friends at your next dinner party (or avoid a nap during early voting).

What Is Amendment G, Anyway?

Amendment G proposes extending Colorado’s existing homestead exemption—a property tax break for seniors and certain veterans—to include veterans who are classified as “unemployable” due to service-related disabilities. Right now, only veterans with a “100% permanent and total” disability rating from the VA get the tax break. But if this passes, roughly 3,700 more veterans would qualify.

If you’re feeling adventurous, here’s the actual text of the amendment:

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning the expansion of eligibility for the property tax exemption for veterans with a disability to include a veteran who does not have a service-connected disability rated as a one hundred percent permanent disability but does have individual unemployability status?

What’s This Thing Supposed to Do?

Currently, if you’re a disabled veteran who’s completely out of the workforce due to your disability, tough luck—you don’t get the property tax break unless the VA also says your disability is “permanent.” This amendment would let more veterans—those who can’t hold a job due to their disability—join the party. The homestead exemption knocks 50% off the first $200,000 of a home’s value, saving veterans around $590 a year on average. Small change for some, a big deal for others.

The Pros

1. More Help for Veterans: Expanding the tax break means more veterans with serious disabilities could get some relief. It’s a win for those who’ve served and need the financial break.
2. No Local Budget Impact: Local governments won’t lose funding because the state covers any lost revenue—so no one’s school is losing its lunch money over this.
3. Broad Support: Both sides of the political aisle (surprisingly) agree on this one, with no opposition in the state legislature.

The Cons

1. It’s Not Simple for Local Governments: Administering this expanded tax break could get tricky for local governments, since “unemployable” doesn’t mean permanent, unlike the current 100% disability standard.
2. Tax Refund Cuts: That $1.8 million in tax breaks? It’s coming out of the pot meant for taxpayer refunds under Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). So, if you love your tax refund, don’t expect it to grow.

From the Colorado Blue Book…

Voting YES reduces the property taxes paid by some veteran homeowners by expanding the existing homestead exemption to include veterans whose disability is rated as making them unemployable.

Voting NO means that existing requirements to receive the homestead exemption remain in place, and it continues to be available to veterans whose disability is rated as 100 percent permanent and total.

The Bottom Line

Amendment G aims to give more veterans a much-needed financial break, but it might make things complicated for tax collectors and reduce your TABOR refund ever so slightly. If you think veterans deserve more help, this one’s a no-brainer. Just don’t expect it to affect your bottom line—unless you were eyeing that tax refund for an extra coffee run.

For more details, check out The Colorado Sun and 5280 for deeper dives.

Objectivity be damned, here’s how we’re voting…

We’re voting YES. What, are you nuts?! Veterans served this great nation, putting their ass on the line so our ass could vote. And we should have the common sense to extend this simple courtesy to veterans who are unemployable due to service-related disabilities.