Denver's property tax relief program has two operators, and both are getting $2.25 million more

On Thursday we reported that Brothers Redevelopment's contract to run the Denver Property Tax Relief Program would get $2.25 million more (our story). There's a second contract for the same program, with the same numbers, on the same committee agenda.

Why it matters: the program pays partial rebates of property taxes, or the rent equivalent, to qualifying older, disabled and lower-income residents. Between the two operators, the city would put $11.8 million into it through 2027.

The second contract

26-1738 amends the city's contract with The Community Firm, which does business as the Community Economic Defense Project, at 1600 Downing St. From the Department of Housing Stability's request:

• Adds $2,250,000, from $3,650,000 to $5,900,000.
• Adds a year, to Dec. 31, 2027. The contract began May 1, 2025; this is its second amendment.
• Paid from the General Fund. The firm was picked competitively and has worked for the city before.

The Brothers amendment, 26-1739, has the same dollar figures, start date and end date.

What the operators do

The request describes the job in detail. The operator:

• Reviews applications that come in through a central database and makes the final eligibility decision.
• Checks the applicant's age, disability status and household income against the area median, and confirms they lived at a Denver primary residence for all of the prior year.
• Confirms the applicant paid that year's property taxes or rent in full.
• Is responsible for "mitigating potential applicant irregularities and fraudulent activity."
• Issues the payments, up to limits set by the department.
• Does outreach, including in-person help for applicants who have trouble with technology or language.
• Connects applicants to other help: foreclosure prevention, the state's emergency rental assistance, Denver's rent and utility aid program, eviction legal defense, energy assistance, home repair and home sharing.

The request doesn't say how many households either operator serves or how the work is split between them.

A related bill on Monday

The Property Tax Rebate Fund was created by ordinance in 2025. 26-1645, one of the Long Bill's companion bills, would change the fund from "appropriated, lapsing" to "appropriated, non-lapsing." In practice, that means money budgeted for rebates but not paid out by Dec. 31 would stay in the fund for the next year instead of lapsing. It's up for first reading Monday, Nov. 16 (meeting).

What our records add

Rent aid has been the year's budget fight. The Council pushed for more temporary rental and utility assistance in the 2027 budget, and part of it is coming from this year's last contingency money (our story). The rebate program is separate: it pays back taxes or rent already paid for the prior year.

HOST's General Fund line goes down. The Department of Housing Stability's 2027 General Fund appropriation is $71.4 million, down $805,000 (our story).

Also on the consent list

The same Community Planning and Housing agenda has a new $1,180,327 contract with Vivent Health for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS services through June 30, 2027 (26-1740).

What's next

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1:30 p.m.: Community Planning and Housing Committee, on consent (meeting). Then Mayor-Council and the full Council.