I am an experienced, knowledgeable and successful private and public sector individual. I previously started and/or owned a part of, or all of, four successful companies. One of which was an international, publicly traded, major entity in its market sector. That company created jobs for over 1,500 people in the hospital industry, operating in the U.S., Canada, Australia and France.

I am a third-generation resident of Colorado. My paternal grandfather and his brother emigrated from Bern, Switzerland in the 1890s, crossed the Atlantic, traveling in steerage accommodations and entering the country by asking for permission at Ellis Island.

They then traveled to Leadville and made their fortune in mining. They wisely left and bought land in southwest Missouri then sent for the rest of the family to come from Bern.

They prospered until the Great Depression. Being unable to raise enough funds from the efforts of their labor, they lost their land, except for a quarter section (160 acres) to the county assessor and tax collector and moved to Grand Junction for five years to share crop strawberries.

I grew up in Great Falls, Virginia, and upon returning from service in Vietnam finished my education, then started my journey back to family roots in Colorado. 

I have served several higher education institutions over the last 40 years as adjunct faculty in business, economics and management while also in the private sector, creating jobs for others and paying “my fair share” in taxes into government coffers.

Refer to Bacher4Summit.com for the “rest of the story.”

Priority No. 1: Property taxes

The past crop and current crop of county commissioners have not responded to the opportunities to mitigate the onerous property tax increases that occurred due to the Democrat Party’s successful support of the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment in 2020. Had Gallagher not been repealed, the tax increase would have been limited to 4% — not the mind boggling property tax surprises in 2023. My own property taxes increased over 50% from the prior assessment period.

It is my opinion that the “party of the left” knew that valuations were going to occur massively and didn’t want to miss out on mining the “people’s pockets” to fill the county’s coffers.

The current commissioners did not avail themselves of the opportunity to lower the mill tax levy, this past year, that the Gov. Jared Polis administration had authorized.

I will advocate to rollback the increases through measures that work around the state’s imposed limitations. The goal is at least a 20% tax relief for all county residents who own their own property. Also, raise the “senior citizens” property tax credit from 50% of $200,000 of actual value of the primary residence to 100% of $200,000 as well as for the disabled veterans.

Priority No. 2: Revise short-term rental licensing

As currently structured, these are ineffective and onerous impositions despite what should be common sense. These have resulted in “unintended consequences” and damaged the property rights of the citizens. The county commissioners, and their advisors, got it wrong in the restriction of the number of days/nights, onerous fees and taxes, burdensome oversight, “zone overlays,” and the arbitrary and capricious imposition of regulations/rules while choosing winners and losers.

I have in my possession a copy of a Dec. 10, 2021, letter from the town of Breckenridge to the county commissioners requesting the recent resort zone overlay for Peak 7 to be changed to a neighborhood designation. The letter was signed by the then-Mayor Eric Mamula. By doing so, the county commissioner’s action created a situation that, in my opinion, lowered the market value of the Peak 7 area.

I believe that this was so that the town could acquire property at lower cost for deed-restricted housing. 

Priority No. 3: Revise and streamline planning and zoning

In consultation with planning and zoning leadership, I’d revise building codes to promote a cost effective and timely review and approval process. Emphasis on private residences to be built with accessory dwelling units options, and multiple-use emphasis for all new commercial development to include additional housing availability, both to alleviate the continuing housing shortage.

If you are tired of the same results, higher taxes, and more restrictions of your personal freedoms, I ask for your vote.  For further background please visit Bacher4Summit.com.

Allen Bacher is a Republican Party candidate for the Summit Board of County Commissioners District 1. He can be reached at bacher4summit@gmail.com.