Task force studies how to close ag tax loopholes

Colorado’s system of agricultural property-tax designations is flawed and losing money that could be used to help support struggling county and city governments, a recent state report suggests.

The Agricultural Classification Task Force met last summer and labored over what needs to be done to close some loopholes in state law that are allowing non-farmers and non-ranchers to obtain agricultural property-tax designations, which reduce their tax obligation dramatically.

The task force was created earlier this year by the passage of House Bill 10-1293, which called for an examination of property tax assessment and classification related to land used for both agricultural and…