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Denver Keeps the Door Open for Dialogue with Raíces Brewing

THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE CLARIFIES THAT THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THE CITY

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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The spokesperson for the Denver Department of Finance has not ruled out continuing dialogue with the owners of Raíces Brewing Co. She said the city remains open to finding a resolution that would allow the brewery to resume operations. The Department of Finance also offered its perspective on the reasons that led to the closure of Raíces Brewing Co.

The brewery’s owners stated that the personal property tax was one of the main causes of their debt with the city. The department’s spokesperson, Laura Swartz, explained that this type of tax, known in English as the Personal Property Tax, “is not a tax exclusive to Denver,” but rather “a state tax that applies to all counties in Colorado and to every business in the state”.

This tax applies to movable property used by businesses in their operations—such as furniture, refrigerators, machinery, or computers—and is calculated based on its declared annual value. “The city is responsible for collecting it on behalf of the state,” Swartz explained, “but it is not a local policy.” However, she clarified that the portion of the brewery’s debt related to this tax represents only a small share of the total amount owed.

Open to Dialogue

“The majority of what they owe is not personal property tax, but unpaid sales taxes,” she said. “Raíces Brewing Co. owes about $109,000, of which approximately $98,000 are unpaid sales taxes and only about $10,000 correspond to the personal property tax”.

The spokesperson emphasized that the department had been working with Raíces Brewing for more than a year to avoid closure. “We’ve had multiple meetings, phone calls, emails, and even in-person visits,” Swartz said.

She continued, “We always give businesses every possible opportunity to pay before reaching this point. It is not our goal to issue a closure order.” Swartz stressed that the city prefers to support local businesses and remains open to finding solutions. “Yes, absolutely,” she said. “If the owners can pay their taxes or contact our office to work out a new agreement, we would be very excited to see them reopen”.