Sample Association resolution: "Extend Disabled Veterans' Survivor Property Tax Exemption to Gold Star Spouses"

 Here's what has been proposed to the American Legion, although in no way approved yet It needs post approval, then district, before the Department of Colorado can decide on it. Again. only a draft. (May 5: modified to forward the resolution only to UVC for them to consider.)

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A possible solution: redefine "disabled veteran" to include deceased active duty servicemenbers?

 Perhaps this approach can work. I've found House Bill 14-1737 which added surviving spouses to the exemption for totally disabled veterans. Apparently this was done under the umbrella of the state constitution's Article X Section 3.5 which made no mention of survivors – the legislature just did it.

Can the legislature do it again? Can't the legislature define an active duty servicemember who dies in the line of duty as a disabled veteran? That might work to pack into Article X Section 3.5 our few Gold Star Wives. The new text is in red

Colorado Owes Our Gold Star Widows the Property Tax Exemption Given Disabled Veterans' Widows

 

Mission Statement & Initial Plans for Gold Star Wives 2022 Property Tax Initiative

CLICK to download this 5-page outline of this goal for Gold Star Wives to get the same property tax relief as do survivors of disabled veterans.

The honor nobody wants!

 

The Colorado Legislature just passed another resolution "honoring" Gold Star Spouses. Wasn't that nice?

Yes, it was nice of the legislature, but Colorado certainly did it on the cheap! 

Our legislature once again has published a joint resolution (above) "honoring" survivors of Colorado's soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who died on active duty, often in combat, always in service to state and nation. A Gold Star Wife (sometimes the word "spouse" is used) has lost their spouse while on active military duty. The Gold Star Wives is an organization nobody wants to join - the cost in pain and suffering is just too high!

Clearly, it is an empty vessel. Nice words, quality paper, good typing and warmly appreciated by the widows, but completely useless in helping widows of Colorado's war dead address the financial impact of their loved ones' s death while on active military duty.

But nothing more substantial than a resolution with a budget impact of three sheets of paper. Nothing else. No benefits extended by a tight-fisted legislature during times when both government and the governed find themselves stretched financially.

The issue here is that for yet another year, our legislature had opted not to permit Gold Star Wives to receive the same small partial property tax exemption provided to survivors of 100% disabled veterans. How is this done?

In 2006 voters approved Resolution E and offered Colorado's veterans with a 100% VA disability a modest property tax exemption. Merely exempting $100,000 of the first $200,000 assessed valuation. Saves between $459-$600 – not much but it helps when trying to get by on the small VA widow's pension.

The benefit is only extended to the survivor of a disabled veteran already in receipt of the property tax exemption at the time of death. So, what about a widows of a troop killed in combat? Yup - there's the problem. A soldier dying in combat is obviously totally disabled by death but will never "be in receipt of the exemption at the time of death," as required by Article X Section 3.5 of the state constitution.

Mission Statement: Really, it is very simple.

When Colorado voters extended a partial property tax relief to totally disabled veterans and their survivors back in 2006, somehow no provision was made for survivors of troops who die on active duty.

To do so requires amending Article X Section 3.5 of the state constitution. We need to begin "baby steps" in 2021 for a decision by the voters in either 2022 or 2023.