50 Coloradans wrongly sent demand for back taxes over conservation easements

Colorado officials say they mistakenly told about 50 people with contested conservation easements to pay back taxes or the money would be taken from their wages. The Colorado Department of Revenue says it wrongly sent the notices to people have pending tax protests. Spokesman Mark Couch says it was quickly rectified. Jillane Hixson of Lamar says she spent $2,000 in attorney fees before the state corrected the mistake. The program gave tax breaks to farmers farmers and ranchers who put their land in conservation easements. It was designed to help the owners keep the land in agricultural production instead of selling it for development. The state put the brakes on the program after allegations of fraud. AP