The Fort Collins Legion post forwarded its unanimously-approved Gold Star Wives resolution to Legion District 4. This morning, the nineteen posts represented unanimously approved the resolution and District 4 now forwards it to Department.. The next step is to convince the department resolution committee and then, it will be put to all delegates.
Then, the Legion delegate presents the issue to the United Veterans Coalition.
This is very encouraging. The resolution asks the UVC, where both the Legion and the Gold Star Wives are members, to advocate inclusion of survivors of active-duty military line of duty deaths in the Colorado Disabled Veteran Survivor property tax exemption.
We should know more about the Legion's Department of Colorado decision this month!
Opposition to extending the property tax exemption is considerable, with most concern being the tight state budget. Finding $100,000 shouldn't be impossible, given that the general category of homestead exemptions for seniors, disabled military and survivors is $149,000,000; we're asking only for 0.0006 of an increase.
I realize there is also coordinated opposition by some worried veterans, concerned about the groundwork underway to advance this within UVC. Perhaps there's some area of conflict with other coalition priorities or conflict caused by an outsider (me) trying to get UVC help going forward – nobody has said.
I'm a little concerned about UVC suggestions that any concerns, even these about which I care deeply) are best left altogether to them. I don't want to stand aside to see whether or not the coalition opts to advance GSW. It would seem better strategy, with no conflict of my causing, to advocate among primary members for their support. As I read the 2019 email, the task is getting issues into consideration by June and decided upon for inclusion of GSW with the legislative agenda.
At this point, my objective is still (1) get UVC member organizations aware of the Gold Star Wives property tax exemption (2) get the unanimous UVC member organizations' approval to include this issue in the UVC 2022 state legislative agenda (3) bring this to the attention of interested state legislators to draft a bill and update LCS research from their 2019 review
It has been six years since UVC last considered Gold Star Wives when I asked. Nothing formal ever followed – no bills, no committee hearings. It simply disappeared without action back in 2016. For 2022, We must not meekly stand aside, passively watching and wondering if UVC will act in 2022.
With the offer of a bill to be introduced in June, and with the hoped-for UVC leadership and support (rather than disappointment with me and undoing my efforts) the issue should have a chance of reaching the legislature, maybe even into law by the summer of 2022.
