Week of November 17, 2022
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LoneTreeVoice.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 22
VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 39
Voters approve opting out of state broadband service measure Lone Tree gets authority to partner with providers BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
At the Invest in DCSD watch party on Nov. 8 in Highlands Ranch, Superintendent Erin Kane said the results were not what she was hoping for, but was optimistic about the support shown by voters. “I’m actually feeling good because we were at 39% (approval
The majority of Lone Tree voters approved the opt-out of Senate Bill 152, according to unofficial Douglas County election results. More than 83% of voters said yes to the ballot question. Senate Bill 152, which was introduced in 2005, prohibits most uses of municipal and county public resources for infrastructure to improve local broadband services, or from providing these services directly or indirectly, according to Lone Tree’s website. The bill limits or prohibits local governments from using public resources to provide broadband internet, said Arielle Hodgson, a management analyst for Lone Tree, during the city’s Aug. 16 study session. “Local voters can authorize their local government to opt out of that and say, ‘We actually do want our local government to be able to use public resources to provide these services,” Hodgson said. Opting out of SB-152 does not bind local taxpayers to provide local funds, the website states. Rather, it “removes the local prohibition on seeking grants or expending public funds to provide service.” The ballot question asked for permission for Lone Tree to re-establish the authority to participate in, facilitate, or partner with third parties offering three types of services: cable television service, telecommunications service and advanced services. Advanced services refers to broadband internet, or high-speed internet access capability. The Douglas County attorney’s office recommended including all three types in the ballot question, and not just broadband, to ensure the municipality fully opts out of SB-152, Hodgson said. As of spring 2022, voters in about 118 Colorado municipalities, 40 counties and several school districts
SEE SCHOOLS, P5
SEE ELECTION, P2
Home values have been a source of contention between assessors and citizens for years but decreased recently. However, marSHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE ket fluctuations could increase tensions again.
Fewer metro area property owners are challenging assessments More could come as market fluctuates BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
As home prices in the counties around Denver shot up over the last decade, tens of thousands of
residents argued officials incorrectly estimated the values of homes and other properties. They demanded their taxes be reduced. But that trend, practically a rite in some regions, reversed in recent years. Challenges filed with county assessors declined as homeowners apparently acknowledged the rising cost of real estate. “People today understand that
values have been going up dramatically,” said Scot Kersgaard, the Jefferson County assessor. “Day after day, week after week, it’s been in the newspaper constantly.” The news is also on websites, like Zillow, Redfin and Trulia, which track the value of homes. But the last word on the value of SEE ASSESSMENTS, P6
As school measure fails, Kane vows to return next year Teacher compensation remains an issue BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Douglas County School District’s $60 million mill levy override and $450 million bond ques-
tions failed in the 2022 election. The mill levy override would have gone toward making staff compensation more competitive, with the average teacher to see a 9% salary increase. The bond money would have been used to build three new elementary schools, on top of maintaining and improving other district buildings.