We're Trying to Get Colorado's Gold Star Wives Some Property Tax Relief

That's right! It seems this state legislature simply didn't contemplate the possibility of Colorado soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines dying on active duty. That's why Colorado seem to have forgotten to offer our Gold Star Wives the same widows' benefits as we provide to survivors of totally disabled veterans.

That's unjust and plain WRONG! But not a single widow of an active duty service member
is permitted the Colorado Disabled Veteran's Survivor Property Tax Exemption, a small
exemption saving widows between $400-$600 a year.

Why? Our state constitution's Article X Section 3.5 permits the exemption only to widows of 
disabled veterans already in receipt of the benefit. Dying on Active Duty means not being
able to complete the application process – because the service member died first!

This is Really an Amazing and Ridiculous Catch-22!

Why is the small property tax exemption of value to Gold Star Wives?

First, it shows the state's respect and appreciation for the loss borne by these widows and widowers. The partial tax exemption would only save about $400 to $600. It would seem a minor issue to most of us. 

But look at this from a Gold Star Widow's perspective. Circumstances vary, but if eligible widows can receive half of the service member's base pay. More than half of all military deaths are E-5 and below. An Army E-5 three-stripe sergeant would have a widow pension of under $2,000 per month.The VA has "Dependents Indemnity Compensation," where if eligible a survivor might receive $1,300 per month. So, at best, the sergeant's widow (or widower) hopes for a modest $39,000 per year.

How far does that go? In Colorado, the average home mortgage cost is $1,700 per month, and with typical associated costs like taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance, a monthly cost of over $2,400 or $28,000 annually. You can do the math – that leaves $916 per month for food, transportation, insurance, clothing. 

Summary: Colorado Life did a thorough report on the money necessary to live in Colorado one needs $4,317.68 per month to live in Colorado if there is a mortgage involved. Oops – that leaves our widow short by over $12,000 per year. That's why the paltry $400-$600 partial property tax exemption is important. 

The burden of property tax is a huge reason so many citizens can never afford a home, and that's even more true for military folks. That's why so few junior military own homes at the time of death and why so few widows are affected by this proposed tax exemption. For me, I wish it was a total tax exemption as many states provide! The survivor of a service member who dies on active duty obviously have to make many, many compromises to live on $12,000 less per year than what "average" citizens need.