Las Animas County Revisits Land Use, Tax Powers After State Bills

Las Animas County commissioners opened a broader review of local land use and taxation following a briefing that flagged several Colorado General Assembly bills with potential fiscal and policy impacts. County Assessor Jodi Amato told the Board that the measures could reshape property classification, development incentives, and county revenue, placing new pressures on local budgets and services.

At the Feb. 3 meeting of the Las Animas County Board of Commissioners, Amato highlighted Senate Bill 26-010 as central to the discussion and said the bill is “expected to be signed into law.” Amato described SB 26-010 as one that “expands and clarifies the statutory definition of a ‘ranch’ for property tax purposes,” and she summarized the bill’s test of eligibility: it “specifies that a ranch must be predominantly pasture-based, with livestock receiving most of their diet through grazing and operating primarily for monetary profit.” Amato also told commissioners that “higher tax bills this year are largely driven by increased assessment rates for school districts,” and noted that “in Las Animas County, roughly half of a typical property tax bill goes to local schools.”

Amato walked the board through recent policy changes that alter the mechanics of residential taxation. She outlined that recent legislation provides a 10% reduction on the first $70,000 of residential value and a 1% reduction in assessment rates. While those changes reduce taxes for homeowners, Amato said they also reduce revenue for counties, fire districts, and ambulance districts, even as school districts see modest increases. For Las Animas County, the tension is between immediate homeowner relief and narrower revenue streams for local services funded by property tax levies.

Commissioners spent additional time discussing state renewable energy and climate legislation, with board members reported as having “pushed back on renewable energy mandates” and “raising concerns about long-term costs and expanding obligations for counties.” Those policy debates are shaping the broader inquiry into how much control counties will retain over land use and local taxation decisions as state law evolves.

The board also handled routine county business at the same meeting. Commissioners approved a contract with South-Side Lawn & Landscape LLC for courthouse xeriscaping work. They accepted a certificate of completion for the Millig wiring replacement project, rescinded a prior change order, and approved revised change orders after correcting a mathematical error. The meeting record does not include contract dollar amounts or full project cost details.

Separately, the Bureau of Land Management has proposed reinstatement of terminated oil and gas leases that touch Las Animas County. Lessees named in the notice include Longs Peak Resources, LLC; Las Animas Leasing, Inc.; and Bison IV Properties Colorado, LLC. Listed lease items include Longs Peak Resources, LLC, 315.80 acres, COCO105672635 (COC79892); Las Animas Leasing, Inc., 2081.160 acres, COCO105672641 (COC79898); Las Animas Leasing, Inc., 1680.0 acres, COCO105674901 (COC79921); and Las Animas Leasing, Inc., 2320.0 acres, COCO105294898. The notice states these leases conform with the existing Eastern Resource Management Plan signed January 9, 2024. BLM contact for inquiries is Scott Curtis, Supervisory Land Law Examiner, Fluid Minerals Adjudication, Bureau of Land Management Colorado State Office, P.O. Box 151029, DFC - Bldg. 40, Lakewood, CO 80215; phone (303) 239-3600; email BLM_CO_LeaseSale@blm.gov.

Key specifics remain to be confirmed for county residents: the full text and signed date of SB 26-010, the year and official minutes for the Feb. 3 meeting, the dollar values and procurement details for the courthouse xeriscaping contract, exact figures for the Millig wiring change orders, and the complete lease entry for Bison IV in the BLM notice. For homeowners and local service providers, the immediate implication is that property tax bills and county budgets may shift as state changes take effect, and commissioners will continue to monitor implementation and any impacts on local services.