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Colorado special district glossary

Special District

A special district is an independent unit of local government in Colorado that provides specific public services within a defined geographic boundary.

Colorado has roughly 3,000 special districts, making it one of the states most reliant on this form of governance.

Special districts can provide a wide range of services including water and sanitation, fire protection, parks and recreation, health services, and infrastructure financing.

They are created through a process that typically requires approval from the county or municipality with jurisdiction over the area, and they have the legal authority to levy property taxes, issue bonds, and charge fees for services.

For homeowners, understanding which special districts overlap your property is essential because each district adds its own mill levy to your total property tax bill.

Related Terms

Metro District

A metropolitan district (metro district) is a type of special district in Colorado created by real estate developers to finance the infrastructure needed for new residential communities.

Mill Levy

A mill levy is a property tax rate used by local governments and special districts in Colorado to fund their operations and debt payments.

TABOR

TABOR, the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, is a provision in the Colorado Constitution (Article X, Section 20) that limits how much revenue state and local governments, including special districts, can collect and spend each year.

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