Legislation from the special session in November, which sought to tackle soaring property taxes in Colorado, is causing counties to delay sending out property tax bills. 

The latest to announce a delay is Arapahoe, Colorado’s third largest county.

The county said last week it would delay sending out property tax bills, which could be as late as Jan. 24. That’s the date outlined in Senate Bill 23B-001 for county assessors to certify county tax rolls, which is normally due on Jan. 10 each year.

But that does not change the due dates for paying those taxes, the Arapahoe County treasurer said in a news release, meaning taxpayers will have a little less time to send in their checks.

If paying the amount in full, property taxes are due by April 30. If splitting the payments in two, the first is due on Feb. 29 and the second by no later than June 15. 

Jefferson County Treasurer Jerry DiTullio announced on his county’s website that property tax bills could show up later than usual in residents’ mailboxes – as late as mid-February. He also cited the changes made by the state legislature as the reason for the delay.

The deadline for paying those taxes does not change, DiTullio said, citing the same due dates as Arapahoe County and which also apply to all other counties.

The delay, according to DiTullio and Pueblo County Treasurer Kimberly Archuleta, is meant to give taxing authorities sufficient time to certify their mill levies and to give county assessors more time to gather newly-required data. 

Arapahoe County Treasurer Michael Westerberg said the payment deadlines remained because the legislature “kept the existing payment deadline to ensure that essential services provided by our special districts, including fire departments, school districts, health districts, hospitals, and other public entities, continue to receive the necessary funding without interruption.”