The Gilpin County Commissioners discussed a ballot measure for a two percent lodging tax during a regular meeting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at the Courthouse and virtually.

The Board also approved the CentralSquare Pro Suite Contract, an Intergovernmental Agreement for the Opioid Settlement, three liquor license renewals, and heard an overview of a Senate bill on property taxes.

County Attorney Brad Benning introduced a resolution for a lodging tax ballot measure seeking approval for a two percent lodging tax on short-term rentals. Should Gilpin County voters vote in favor of the lodging tax, it will bring more funds to the County for tourism, marketing, and other community projects to improve the visitor experience. The additional revenue could be used for various community projects to improve many things in Gilpin County, including but not limited to, roads and transportation, housing, and childcare.

“The resolution provides for the submission to the registered, qualified electors of unincorporated Gilpin County, a question authorizing the levy of a two percent lodging tax on the rental fee, price, or other consideration paid or charged for the leasing, rental, sale, or furnishing of a room or accommodation for a short-term period in order to support tourism, enhance the visitor experience, and address the impacts visitors have on the county, including without limitation, undertaking community projects and services addressing visitor experiences and impacts in the areas of recreation, public safety, transportation and roads, housing, childcare, workforce, and historic preservation.”

The Board had two work sessions on this issue. According to State statute, the tax can be applied on lodging of 30 days or less, but the Board can tax longer term rentals if they choose.

We have to be very specific on leases, Benning said. The funds will support tourism, traffic, and trails. He covered every aspect of the statute.

The State collects this for the County, Benning said. It will be administered by the State. Commissioner Web Sill said the resolution before us is to approve the lodging tax on the ballot. Benning said we are approving the language today.

The taxes are to be paid by the users of the lodge. Benning said he will have numbers at the next Board meeting.

Sill said he doesn’t want to go through this again, and wanted to make a motion today to approve the resolution. Board Chair Sandy Hollingsworth said that specific numbers will go on the ballot, and at the next meeting they can put it on the consent agenda.

In the consent agenda during today’s meeting, County Manager Rears requested approval of the CentralSquare Pro Suite Contract, which the Board had discussed previously. This Software License and Service Agreement is by and between Gilpin County for the benefit of the Gilpin County Sheriff, and CentralSquare Technologies LLC.

They entered into a prior agreement for software products with SunGard HTE, Inc., a CentralSquare Technologies company. The customer desires to discontinue use of the SunGard solution and upgrade to the CentralSquare Software,

The majority of the funds will be paid for through the American Rescue Funds Act. Rears said this is the annual subscription cost and was discussed at the April 5 Board meeting. It’s critical for the sheriff’s office. The Board approved the consent agenda.

Benning introduced the Colorado Regional Opioid Intergovernmental Agreement. This is an IGA to be approved today. According to the IGA, the agreement is by and between the counties of Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin and the Cities of Arvada, Black Hawk, Town of Bow Mar, Central City, Edgewater, Town of Empire, Town of Georgetown, City of Golden, City of Idaho Springs, City of Lakewood, City of Littleton, Town of Morrison, Town of Mountain View, Town of Silver Plume, Town of Superior, City of Westminster, and City of Wheatridge.

Communities throughout the state of Colorado are suffering from the epidemic of opioid addiction. This epidemic has not only affected individuals and families across the state, but it has also burdened the local and state governments charged with providing the services needed to address the wave of addiction.

Local and state governments across the nation, including in Colorado, have filed lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies for creating the opioid epidemic. The State of Colorado and numerous local governments within the State, each a

“Participating Local Government,” executed the Colorado Opioids Summary Memorandum of Understanding in 2021, establishing the manner in which Opioid Funds shall be divided and distributed within the State of Colorado as settlements of the nationwide lawsuits are completed.

Clear Creek County, Gilpin County, and Jefferson County constitute one of the regions established by the Colorado MOU. Regions within the State are eligible for a direct allocation of opioid

The participating local governments desire to enter into this agreement and to detail the procedures for the parties to establish a Regional Council, designate a fiscal agent, and request and administer opioid funds in a manner consistent with Colorado.

Benning said the MOU allows an allocation for Gilpin County. The County can keep it or give it away. Commissioner Linda Isenhart said the entire settlement is for $400 million, and Gilpin County will receive $18,201. She said this has been in the works for quite a while. The Board approved the IGA and then approved a motion to defer the funds to the Gateway of the Rockies.

The Board then approved the renewal of liquor licenses for Underground Liquor, Coyote Liquors, and Pickle Liquors.

County Assessor Anne Schafer provided an overview of Senate Bill 22- 238 regarding property taxes. She said the bill was extraordinary, encompassing many pieces.

Section One of the bill reduces the valuation for assessment of nonresidential property, excluding agricultural and renewable energy production nonresidential property, from 29 percent of the actual value of the property to 27.9 percent. Section Two reduces the valuation for assessment of residential property, including multi-family residential property, to 6.765 percent of the actual value of the property, and Sections One and Three reduce the actual value used for purposes of the valuation for assessment of commercial real property by $30,000 and of residential real property by $15,000, but in either case to no less than $1,000.

Schafer presented numbers based on 2022 values, but these are only an estimate if the values increase by 13 percent. The County would lose about $260,000.

She won’t have final numbers until mill levies are approved in December. Actual values will be formulated at that time.

The next meeting of the Gilpin County Board of Commissioners will be on Tuesday,August 2, 2022, at 9 a.m. For more information, go to https://gilpincounty. colorado.gov/public-meetings/board-of- county-commissioners-bocc-meetings.