Mesa County Treasurer FAQs

Have questions about what the Mesa County Treasurer actually does? Greg Haitz, candidate for Mesa County Treasurer in 2026, answers some of the most common questions about property taxes, the Public Trustee, tax lien sales, county investments, and the responsibilities of the Treasurer's Office.

What does the Mesa County Treasurer do?

The Mesa County Treasurer is responsible for collecting property taxes and distributing those funds to the appropriate taxing authorities, as well as managing and investing public funds entrusted to the Treasurer's Office.

The Treasurer also oversees delinquent property taxes and the annual tax lien sale.

In Mesa County, the elected Treasurer also serves as the County's Public Trustee, which carries additional responsibilities involving deeds of trust and the foreclosure process.

Simply put, the Treasurer's job is to safeguard public money, accurately collect and distribute taxes, and provide dependable service to the public.

Who is Greg Haitz?

Greg Haitz is a candidate for Mesa County Treasurer in the 2026 election.

Greg is a longtime Mesa County resident, small-business owner, Doctor of Chiropractic, and community volunteer. He owns Rimrock Wellness Center in Grand Junction and has served in several community and county roles, including on the Mesa County Planning Commission.

Greg has also completed Mesa County's Inside Mesa County program, giving him an in-depth look at county departments, operations, budgeting, and services.

He is running for Treasurer with a focus on responsible stewardship of public funds, professionalism, transparency, and excellent customer service.

Why is Greg Haitz running for Mesa County Treasurer?

I believe local government works best when the people entrusted with public money understand that those dollars belong to the taxpayers.

I'm running for Mesa County Treasurer because my background as a business owner has required me to manage finances, make responsible decisions, work with employees and customers, and remain accountable for the results.

The Treasurer's Office isn't about setting county policy. It's about doing an important job well: safeguarding public funds, collecting and distributing taxes accurately, investing responsibly, following the law, and providing excellent customer service.

That's the kind of Treasurer I intend to be.

What experience does Greg Haitz bring to the Treasurer's Office?

I've spent decades operating businesses where financial management, budgeting, personnel decisions, customer service, and accountability are part of everyday life.

My community involvement has also given me experience with local government. I've served on the Mesa County Planning Commission and participated in Inside Mesa County, where I learned firsthand how county departments operate and work together.

I believe that combination of business management, community involvement, and understanding county government provides a strong foundation for serving as Mesa County Treasurer.

Does the Mesa County Treasurer set property tax rates?

No.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about the Treasurer's Office.

The County Treasurer does not set property tax rates or mill levies. Those rates are determined by the various taxing authorities that appear on your property tax bill, such as counties, municipalities, school districts and special districts.

The Treasurer's job is to collect the taxes that have been legally assessed and distribute the money to the appropriate taxing authorities.

Does the Mesa County Treasurer determine my property's value?

No.

The Mesa County Assessor, not the Treasurer, determines property values for property-tax purposes.

Once the valuation and applicable assessment calculations are established and the various taxing authorities have certified their mill levies, the resulting tax information is used to produce the property tax bill.

The Treasurer then collects those taxes and distributes the revenue to the appropriate taxing authorities.

How are property taxes calculated in Mesa County?

Colorado property taxes involve several different pieces.

Generally, a property's actual value is established by the County Assessor. Colorado's applicable assessment rules are then used to determine the property's assessed value. The applicable mill levies from the taxing authorities serving that property are applied to that assessed value to determine the property taxes owed.

A simple way to think about it is:

Property Value → Assessed Value → Mill Levies → Property Tax Bill

Because properties can fall within different taxing districts, two similarly valued properties may have different total property tax bills.

Can the Mesa County Treasurer lower my property taxes?

No. The County Treasurer does not have the authority to independently lower your property valuation, assessment rate, or the mill levies imposed by taxing authorities.

That's an important distinction because the Treasurer is the person whose office sends and collects the property tax bill, but the Treasurer did not independently determine all of the components that created that bill.

As Treasurer, my responsibility would be to administer the law accurately, help taxpayers understand the process, and provide excellent customer service.

What happens if I don't pay my property taxes?

Unpaid property taxes become delinquent and are subject to interest, fees, and the tax lien process established under Colorado law.

Eventually, the delinquent tax lien may be offered at the county's annual tax lien sale.

That does not mean someone immediately buys your house.

The tax lien process contains specific legal procedures and opportunities for the property owner to redeem the lien by paying the amounts required by law.

Property owners facing delinquent taxes should communicate with the Treasurer's Office rather than ignoring the problem.

What is a tax lien sale?

A tax lien sale allows investors to purchase a lien created by unpaid property taxes.

The investor is purchasing the tax lien, not simply purchasing the house.

The proceeds allow the taxing authorities that depend on property-tax revenue to receive the funds owed to them even though the property owner has not paid the taxes.

The property owner then has the opportunity to redeem the tax lien in accordance with Colorado law.

Can someone buy my house at the tax lien sale?

Not simply by purchasing the tax lien.

This is another common misconception.

When an investor purchases a tax lien at the annual tax lien sale, the investor receives a certificate associated with the delinquent taxes. The investor does not simply become the owner of the property that day.

Colorado law provides a process before a tax lien can potentially lead to a Treasurer's Deed, including notice requirements and opportunities for redemption.

Even after the later Treasurer's Deed process has begun, Mesa County notices state that the property may be redeemed before the actual public auction.

What does the Mesa County Public Trustee do?

The Public Trustee administers certain functions involving deeds of trust and real-estate foreclosures under Colorado law.

This includes carrying out specific statutory responsibilities during the foreclosure process and handling documents and funds associated with those proceedings.

The Public Trustee does not represent the lender or the borrower. The office administers the process according to Colorado law.

Why am I also electing the Public Trustee when I elect the Mesa County Treasurer?

In Mesa County, the elected County Treasurer also serves as the Public Trustee.

That means when voters choose their next Mesa County Treasurer, they are selecting the person who will also carry out the responsibilities of the Public Trustee.

It's an important part of the job that many voters don't realize is included in the office.

How does the Mesa County Treasurer invest public funds?

One of the Treasurer's most important responsibilities is safeguarding and investing public funds until those dollars are needed.

Those investments must comply with Colorado law and emphasize the protection of public money.

A Treasurer must consider safety, liquidity, maturity dates, cash-flow needs, and the return earned on taxpayer funds. Strategies can include properly structured investment portfolios, laddered maturities, and authorized local-government investment pools.

The objective isn't speculation. It's responsible stewardship: protect the principal, maintain the liquidity the county needs, comply with the law, and seek an appropriate return on public funds.

What is the difference between the Treasurer's Office and the Mesa County Finance Department?

They perform different functions.

The Treasurer is an independently elected county official responsible for functions including collecting and distributing property taxes and managing and investing funds entrusted to the office.

The Finance Department handles other aspects of the county government's internal financial operations, which can include budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, purchasing and related administrative functions.

The offices work with the same broad subject — county finances — but their responsibilities are not interchangeable.

What is the Colorado Senior Homestead Exemption?

Colorado's Senior Homestead Exemption provides qualifying senior homeowners with a property-tax exemption on a portion of their home's value.

Eligibility and the amount of the exemption are determined under Colorado law. The County Assessor handles the application and qualification process, while the exemption is ultimately reflected in the property-tax process administered through the Treasurer's Office.

The County Treasurer does not have the authority to independently change the eligibility requirements or amount of the exemption.

Does Greg Haitz support changes to the Senior Homestead Exemption?

I believe Colorado should continue looking for ways to provide meaningful property-tax relief to seniors who have spent years building their lives and communities here.

One issue worth continuing to examine is the long-term residency requirement and what happens when a qualifying senior needs to downsize or move. Seniors shouldn't be discouraged from making a sensible housing decision simply because of the potential effect on a property-tax benefit.

Any change to the exemption has to occur through the appropriate state constitutional and legislative process. The County Treasurer cannot make that change independently.

Where can I learn more about the Mesa County Treasurer's Office?

Visit Treasurer's Corner on GregforTreasurer.com/treasurers-corner for short videos and explanations about property taxes, tax lien sales, county investments, the Public Trustee, assessed values, and other responsibilities of the Mesa County Treasurer.

If there's a question you would like Greg to address in a future Treasurer's Corner, contact the campaign through GregforTreasurer.com..