Mill Levy Certification

Each year in Mesa County, local taxing entities (such as school districts, the county government, cities, fire and water districts, and other special districts) must determine the property tax rates — called mill levies — needed to fund their planned budgets for the upcoming year. Before these mill levies can be applied, the Mesa County Assessor certifies the assessed values of all taxable property within each taxing entity’s boundaries. This certified valuation data is essential because taxing entities use it to calculate how many mills (property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value) they need to generate the revenue required for their operations and services.

Once each taxing entity finalizes its budget and calculates its mill levy, those levies must be formally certified to the Mesa County Board of Commissioners by mid-December each year. After certification, the county incorporates these mill levies into the property tax rolls, which are then used by the Treasurer’s Office to prepare property tax statements for property owners.

In summary, mill levy certification is the annual process that confirms both the taxable property values and the tax rates set by local governments — ensuring accurate and lawful calculation of property taxes for funding local services throughout Mesa County.

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) plays a key role in making mill levy data transparent and accessible to the public. Under state law, all local government taxing entities that levy property taxes must report detailed mill levy information—such as the levy rates, purposes, and historical revenue—to their county along with their annual mill levy certifications each December. Counties collect this information from each taxing entity, compile it into a standardized electronic spreadsheet, and upload it into DOLA’s secure reporting system known as the County Portal. Once this data is submitted by the county, DOLA automatically publishes it through the Local Government Information System so anyone can view current mill levy information online without needing a login. This statewide public access helps residents, taxpayers, and policymakers understand how levy rates are set and how property tax revenues are distributed across local governments.