Save Money on Your Taxes - Sign the Petition for Exclusion

Dear Cottonwood Highlands Metropolitan District No. 1 Resident,

This letter is a request from the board of directors for Cottonwood Highlands Metropolitan District No. 1 for signatures on a Petition for Exclusion of properties from the boundaries of Cottonwood Metropolitan District.

CHMD#1 is a special district that was formed in 2014 to finance, operate, and maintain park, landscaping, and open space improvements in the Dove Village, Alder Village and Lennar Paired Homes communities. The Cottonwood Metropolitan District is a separate special district that was formed in 1981 and is responsible for operating and maintaining parks, open space and landscaping improvements as well. CHMD#1 is entirely within CMD, which means CHMD#1 residents must pay property taxes to both districts. The boards of directors for CMD and CHMD#1 have agreed that CHMD#1 can exclude from CMD, which will eliminate the requirement for CHMD#1 taxpayers to pay taxes to CMD which are currently at the level of 8.100 mills. Eliminating the taxes paid to CMD is estimated save the average CHMD#1 homeowner approximately $340 per year. 

In addition, CHMD#1 is currently restricted by its Service Plan to assessing a maximum of 10 mills in taxes for operations of the District. In anticipation of the elimination of taxes paid to CMD due to the exclusion, CHMD#1 has asked the Town of Parker to increase that maximum to 18 mills. By increasing the CHMD#1’s maximum mill levy to 18 mills, it will allow CHMD#1 to continue maintaining the community’s parks, landscaping, and open space at a high level while keeping taxes below the current combined level of CHMD#1 and CMD. In the short term, CHMD#1 does not anticipate needing the full 18 mills to fund its services, but having the 18 mill cap will allow CHMD#1 the flexibility to increase its tax revenues if desired service levels increase over time.

To complete the exclusion, CHMD#1 must obtain signatures from 50% of the fee owners in CHMD#1. This is approximately 600 signatures. Representatives from CHMD#1 will be distributing a Petition for Exclusion within the community. If you are a fee owner, we ask that you review and sign the Petition for Exclusion when it is presented by CHMD#1’s representatives. A copy of the Petition for Exclusion and maps of CHMD#1 and CMD are attached to this letter. CHMD#1’s goal is to obtain the signatures by May 1, 2026 and try to remove the properties from CMD’s tax rolls for 2027. 

Please contact CHMD#1’s Manager, Laurie Tatlock, at 720-274-8377 or laurie@mulhernmre.com to ask any questions that you may have, confirm that you are a fee owner, and arrange to sign in front of a Circulator that will certify your signature.

• Douglas County Government
• Douglas County Re-1 School District                              
• Douglas County Schools - Cap Reserve
• Douglas County Schools - Insurance Reserve            
• Douglas County Schools - Debt Service        
• Town of Parker
• Urban Drainage & Flood Control District                       
• Regional  Transportation District
• South Metro Fire Rescue Fire Protection District       
• Cottonwood Water & Sanitation District        
• Cottonwood Metro District                      
• E-470 Public Highway Authority       
• Douglas County Soil Conservation District    
• Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority 
• Douglas Public Library District          
• Urban Drainage & Flood South Platte