TABOR: What is it? How has Loveland used TABOR funds? How does Loveland compare to other communities?
On Tuesday, Aug. 6, Loveland’s City Council voted to bring a TABOR override decision to voters on the November ballot and the second reading of the ordinance goes before Council on Tuesday, Aug. 20. The existing TABOR override expires at the end of 2024. If City Council approves the ballot language at their Aug. 20 meeting, voters will see a local TABOR question on the November 5 ballot.
With TABOR, also known as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, if the total revenue collected by the state or local government exceeds the TABOR limit in any given year (both overall revenue and property tax revenue), then the excess amount must be refunded to taxpayers the following fiscal year. Voters can choose to allow their local government to keep excess TABOR funds, which is known as a local TABOR override.
Until last year, Loveland voters previously authorized four TABOR overrides, and between 2002 and 2023, $51 million has been invested back into City of Loveland parks and recreation, street maintenance and rehabilitation program, road construction and stormwater maintenance, and public safety.
More specifically, over the last two decades, of that $51 million, $37 million in local TABOR funds have been used by Loveland’s Public Works Department and were invested into the Loveland Street Rehabilitation and Maintenance program, road construction and flood mitigation. TABOR funds have also been used to invest in Loveland’s local park system with $7 million used to improve amenities such as Fairground Park and Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park. Another $7 million in local TABOR funds have been used to support the purchase of public safety equipment, training facilities, and technology.
Here are a few helpful details about TABOR in Loveland:
- For a local government to keep and invest excess TABOR revenue back into the community, local voters must choose to override TABOR
- The state is responsible for refunding its TABOR excess, just like the local government is responsible for refunding its excess
- A local TABOR override does not impact the state’s TABOR responsibility
- In 2025, the estimated local TABOR refund per Loveland taxpayer is approximately $15.71 per taxpayer
- The amount of the refund can fluctuate from year-to-year
Voter-approved local TABOR overrides are observed by the Town of Wellington, City of Fort Collins, Town of Timnath, Town of Windsor, City of Greeley, Town of Johnstown, Town of Berthoud, and City of Longmont. The City of Loveland is the only Northern Colorado community that does not have a current voter-approved TABOR override.
