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FIPS: 08031•Rank #14 National•Rank #1 in CO
Denver County, CO
Forward-Looking Municipal Debt, Assessment Lag & Carrying Cost Audit
Elevated Tax Drift Risk
96% Conf.
Tax Drift Index
66.4/ 100
Elevated Drift Risk
Denver County Executive Risk Briefing
MSRB EMMA Disclosures & US Census BureauAugust 2026
Denver County carries a Elevated Tax Drift Score (66.4/100) based on $8,200 in overlapping municipal debt per capita and a +25.5% CAD assessment lag spread. Projected 3-year millage escalation of +0.11% (+11 bps) indicates an estimated +$1,230/yr escrow adjustment on median-priced properties.
Median Home: $560,000Median Income: $86,000Effective Tax: 0.5%
Municipal Debt Per Capita
$8,200
9.5% of Median Income
CAD Valuation Lag
+25.5%
Assessed Value trailing Market HPI
3-Yr Millage Escalation
+11 bps
Effective Rate: 0.5% → 0.7%
Projected Annual Escrow Shock
+$1,230/yr
Estimated on median assessed home
Interactive Property Tax & Escrow Shock Simulator
Model forward-looking ad valorem tax obligations and monthly escrow adjustments for a specific parcel in Denver County, CO.
$560,000
$0
Current Annual Tax
$3,024
@ 0.54% eff. rate
Year 3 Projected Tax
$4,254
@ 0.65% eff. rate
Net Escrow Increase
+$1,230/yr
+$103/mo mortgage escrow
Projected Shock Attribution Breakdown+11 bps rate shift
1. Muni Bond Debt Service
+7 bps
I&S bond amortization
2. Operating Deficit Drift
+4 bps
M&O budget expansion
3. CAD Valuation Catch-up
+$501/yr
+$92,820 assessed base
Overlapping Taxing Jurisdictions & Debt Obligations
Breakdown of autonomous debt issuers assessing ad valorem property taxes on parcels within Denver County.
| Entity Name | Entity Type | Outstanding Bond Debt | Debt / Student or Cap | Adopted Millage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Public Schools | ISD | $1.8B | $20,200 | 0.490% |
5-Year Historical Drift Score & Effective Rate Trajectory
2022
58
0.5% eff.
2023
61
0.5% eff.
2024
63
0.5% eff.
2025
65
0.5% eff.
2026
66.4
0.5% eff.
Statutory Constraint & Legislative Policy
TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) limits state revenue growth, but local bond debts pass through debt service millages.
Data Provenance & Audit Citations