T’Naus Nieto
The Chronicle-News

With an around 10% veteran population, Las Animas County voters will have an opportunity to choose to expand a property tax break to veterans with disabilities during the November 5 primary election. The state ballot measure is called Amendment G.  

If 55% of Colorado voters select “yes” on their ballots for Amendment G, it would amend the Colorado Constitution to expand the number of veterans who could qualify for the homestead property tax exemption. However, a “no” vote would keep the constitution the same, limiting the homestead property tax exemption for veterans with a 100% disability rating from the Veterans Affairs Office.  

Currently, veterans who qualify must have a service-related disability rated by VA. However, if the amendment passes, veterans who have served on active duty in the US Armed Forces could qualify even if their disability isn’t service-related, according to the House concurrent resolution 23-1002.  

According to the United States Census Bureau, veterans make up 10.1% of the population in Las Animas County, which, for reference, is about 2% higher than in Pueblo County, 4% higher than Crowley County, and over 3% higher than the State of Colorado. 

Incumbent state representative, who’s running for reelection for District 47, and Las Animas County native, Ty Winter, said that he supported amending the constitution and voting “yes” on Amendment G, telling The Chronicle-News, “At the end of the day, these are veterans who have served our county… We’re trying to keep people in their homes with the housing crises we have now, especially with our older population and our older veterans… Right now, I think that our people in this state are overtaxed as it is… I support that tax cut for our veterans.”  

Elizabeth Bulthuis, who’s running against Winter, also supported the ballot initiative. She said, “They served our county, and if we can help them in any way possible, I say absolutely yes… I think they deserve to have our support. It doesn’t matter if they got hurt while serving or not. They served our county.” 

The constitutional homestead exempts up to 50% of the first $200,000 of property taxes based on the assessed home value. Disabled veterans were initially added to the exception back in 2006, along with seniors 65 years or older who have lived in their home for at least 10 years and surviving spouses of US military members who died in the line of duty.