Canon city/ Pueblo (Pueblo West: houses, buy, school)

[CanonCo]

We love Canon City, though our home is for sale as we are relocating to Pueblo due to my husbands job. We have looked at every square inch of Pueblo I think re: homes! We have decided on Pueblo West only because you get more land/home for the money. If you are still planning on moving to Canon City, you won't regret it, it is a nice little town.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by j96g

You know what's funny is that we are talking about moving and buying a house and i just realized that the property taxes here in texas are high! My brother-in-law pays about 1,500-2,000 dollars a year on property tax. and while browsing for homes in colorado i noticed taxes mostly under 1,000. Is this right? Did anybody else notice a change lower or higher after the move to colorado. would like to here comments.

Thanks to two Colorado Constitutional amendments--the 1982 Gallagher Amendment and the 1992 TABOR amendment--Colorado has one of the lowest effective property tax rates in the U.S. on residential property. While that may make homeowners giddy, it has a down side. Thanks to Gallagher, the effective tax rate on NON-residential property (commercial and industrial property in particular) is relatively high. Does that make businesses with large amounts of equipment and real property avoid locating or growing in Colorado? Good question--though the industrial base of capital-intensive industries in Colorado has not exactly been growing robustly. Thanks to TABOR, many service-providing taxing entities--everything from small water districts, fire districts, cemetary districts, etc.--have to live on very thin budgets, even in flush times. If Colorado does experience a serious economic downturn (and that is inevitable at some point--anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool), then many entities that provide very essential services to Colorado taxpayers are likely to face serious difficulties in providing those services. So, while no one likes high taxes or inefficient and wasteful government, Colorado's tax system can hardly be called "balanced."

Oh, and there is no free lunch. Colorado's aggregated local and state sales tax rates (often over 8 1/2% in many areas) make it one of the higher sales tax states. Also, fuel taxes in Colorado are among the nation's highest. Historically, Colorado was one the first states nationally to impose both the fuel tax and sales tax. Unlike Texas (home of the original poster), Colorado also has a state income tax, though it is fairly moderate compared to many states.

[Bideshi]

What's the water situation like in Pueblo/Pueblo West?

[McGowdog]

I live in Pueblo West and I drink water right from the faucet. It's the best water in the world.

We have septic with leach field on over 1 acre. The good thing here is we don't pay for sewage. My water bill in winter is about 14 bucks a month.

In the summer, we have a small lawn and sprinkler system to try to keep it green. I don't let the water bill get over 40 bucks a month in the summer.

My dad, Mr. McGowdog Sr. claims he doesn't drink water. He says that fish do the nasty in that stuff.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

My dad, Mr. McGowdog Sr. claims he doesn't drink water. He says that fish do the nasty in that stuff.

As old-line Coloradans say, "Whiskey is for drinkin', water is for fightin' about."

[McGowdog]

You got that right.

And yes, me and Callahan will fight for our water.

[j96g]

thanks to all who helped in responding to my questions, but i have another question. Turns out my wife really doesn't want to move to Colorado, but I really want to, so we compromised to live here for one year, you know experience the 4 seasons get to know the area, so we are going to rent 6months-1year before we buy a home, so I'm looking for a 2 bed 2bath apartment with carport/garage a swimming pool, nice neighbors not loud and close to JC Penney, also looking for something close to major expressway, restuarants, etc. Any suggestions?

[McGowdog]

Good to hear from ya again! The weather's nice here lately when it comes to not being too hot-yet.

We're at about 81° now but could hit 95° by Saturday, with a low of 50°.

I hear that if you're a Texan, 100° is considered to be "a bit warm". I also hear that you consider an Armadillo to be a flat animal that sleeps in the road. And that your mailbox is 90 miles away from the house.

Anyway, you're looking at apartments on the North side of Pueblo like The Preserve at Belmont, Royal Plaza and La Villa Apts.

Good luck and keep in touch.

[j96g]

thanks alot for responding so quickly. I've been reading other posts and seen a few names quite frequently it's like I know some of the names like I know a person. Once again, thanks McGowdog and i've got this one shot to convince my wife, the move is for the better. I'll keep in touch and let you all know how it went and which apartment I chose and if other questions arise for the move i'll definitely post!

[j96g]

p.s. yeah it's hot and humid down in South Texas right now it's 82 but feels like 87 at 11:27 p.m. Central time and it's 67 in Pueblo how i wish i were there. Hey McGowdog how did you make the "degree" sign i can't for the life of me find it?