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Home My WebLink About2023 Coordinated Election TABOR NoticeTO: ALL REGISTERED VOTERS ELECTION MATERIALRETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDRegina O’BrienEagle County Clerk and RecorderP.O. Box 537Eagle, CO 81631Eagle County NOTICE OF ELECTION TO INCREASE TAXES / INCREASE DEBT AND / OR REFERRED MEASURES THIS PAMPHLET CONTAINS INFORMATION ON BALLOT ISSUES AS REQUIRED BY THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 FOR LOCAL ISSUES. A “YES” vote on any ballot issue is a vote in favor of changing current law or existing circumstances, and a “NO” vote on any ballot issue is a vote against changing current law or existing circumstances. The last day for voting is November 8, 2022, (7:00 p.m.) Election Day. Regina O’Brien Eagle County Clerk and Recorder Elections Division PO Box 537 Eagle, CO 81631 Eagle County NOTICE OF ELECTION TO INCREASE TAXES / INCREASE DEBT AND / OR REFERRED MEASURES THIS PAMPHLET CONTAINS INFORMATION ON BALLOT ISSUES AS REQUIRED BY THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 FOR LOCAL ISSUES. A “YES” vote on any ballot issue is a vote in favor of changing current law or existing circumstances, and a “NO” vote on any ballot issue is a vote against changing current law or existing circumstances. The last day for voting is November 8, 2022, (7:00 p.m.) Election Day. Regina O’Brien Eagle County Clerk and Recorder Elections Division PO Box 537 Eagle, CO 81631 «NAME»«ADDR»«CSZ»NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE PAIDGLENWOOD SPGS COPERMIT NO. 22The last day for voting is November 7, 2023, (7:00 p.m.) Election Day. 1 1 To: ALL REGISTERED VOTERS NOTICE OF ELECTION TO INCREASE TAXES / INCREASE DEBT AND / OR REFERRED MEASURES COORDINATED ELECTION OFFICIAL: Regina O’Brien, Eagle County Clerk & Recorder ELECTION DATE: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 ELECTION DAY HOURS: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ELECTION BY MAIL BALLOT: Mail ballots for the Coordinated Election must be received by the Eagle County Clerk & Recorder’s Office or in any Colorado county clerk-controlled ballot box by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. ELECTION OFFICE: Eagle County Clerk & Recorder, 500 Broadway, PO Box 537, Eagle, CO 81631 TELEPHONE: 970-328-8715 WEBSITE: www.eaglecounty.us/vote E-MAIL ADDRESS: elections@eaglecounty.us This Ballot Issue Notice was prepared in accordance with Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution and the Colorado Uniform Election Code of 1992, as amended. The information contained in this Notice was prepared by persons required by law to provide summaries of the comments and the fiscal information. The Eagle County Clerk & Recorder’s Office does not warrant, verify or confirm the accuracy or truth of the ballot issue language, fiscal information or comment summaries as presented below, nor is it responsible for errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation of the materials presented below. For further information or clarification concerning any of the following ballot issues, please contact the respective Designated Election Official as indicated. The Coordinated Election Official is not responsible for failure to meet the Article X, Section 20 constraints if the political subdivision fails to submit the notice and summaries within the deadline and in the form required by the Coordinated Election Official. Most of the following ballot issues will not be on your ballot. Ballot issue(s) will only be on your ballot if you reside within that jurisdiction. Visit www.govotecolorado.gov to check the jurisdictions in which you reside. To: ALL REGISTERED VOTERS NOTICE OF ELECTION ON A REFERRED MEASURE EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO Designated Election Official: Regina O’Brien, Eagle County Clerk & Recorder 500 Broadway, P.O. Box 537 Eagle, CO 81631 Telephone: 970-328-8715 Election Date: November 7, 2023 Election Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eagle County Ballot Issue 1A – Retain Excess 2023 Lodging Tax Revenue to Support Local Workforce WITHOUT IMPOSING NEW TAXES OR INCREASING THE RATE OF ANY EXISTING TAX, MAY EAGLE COUNTY RETAIN AND SPEND ALL 2023 REVENUES DERIVED FROM THE TWO PERCENT (2%) LODGING EXCISE TAX ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS AS ORIGINALLY APPROVED BY THE VOTERS ON NOVEMBER 8, 2022, WITH ALL SUCH RETAINED REVENUE USED FOR THE SAME PURPOSES OF SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL CHILDCARE PROGRAMS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL WORKERS? _____ YES/FOR _____ NO/AGAINST Summary of Written Comments FOR Ballot Issue 1A: Ballot Issue 1A does not impose new taxes or increase any existing tax. Rather, it allows Eagle County to retain all 2023 revenue collected from the 2% lodging tax on short-term rentals passed by the voters in 2022. TABOR requires ballot questions to estimate first-year revenue. The 2022 question authorized Eagle County to collect $3,000,000 in 2023, and any amounts in following years from this lodging tax. This year’s ballot issue simply allows Eagle County to retain any 2023 revenue in excess of the $3,000,000 estimate for the same voter-approved purpose of supporting our local workforce. Eagle County faces a persistent and severe lack of quality and affordable childcare and housing for our local workforce. Supporting Eagle County’s workers is critical to both our quality of life and the economy of our communities. We are now in a position to support our local workforce without having this tax borne by the workforce. Instead, this tax will be paid by out-of-town visitors and offset the impacts caused by a tourism-based economy. All but one of our local municipalities currently have their own lodging tax in place. The County’s lodging tax does not apply in municipalities already collecting their own lodging tax and would actually help to level the playing field across communities by limiting areas of exemption. Everyone recognizes the housing crisis and skyrocketing prices in rents and home purchases which exists in our county. Housing has long been identified as the number one issue facing our communities in every poll or survey, but childcare has been a less visible issue. If you weren’t in the childcare industry or a parent trying to access care for your young child, you might not have been aware of the shortage of care locally and how cost prohibitive it could be. Eagle County Ballot Issue 1A – Retain Excess 2023 Lodging Tax Revenue to Support Local Workforce 2 2 Locally, we have about 4,300 children aged 0 to 5, and such extreme shortages in childcare spaces that 48% of those children are unable to access licensed childcare. This equates to families unable to work, and businesses unable to hire. The Vail Valley Partnership business survey now has childcare near the top of the list of needs, being beat out only by the need for affordable housing. Businesses cannot open or expand as they desire without necessary staff. This is having a direct impact on our economy. There isn’t a business sector that isn’t looking for more employees to hire. Improving our childcare system will help assure that parents who want to work are able to find safe, high-quality care for their young children. No one goes to work without a safe place for their child. More childcare spaces for children will lead to more employees for businesses, which will support a more vibrant economy. Last year’s passage of the lodging tax has created a revenue stream to help address the problem. We will need every bit of assistance. All money collected in 2023 should be put towards this effort. Please continue to keep supporting our local workforce and support ballot question 1A. Summary of Written Comments AGAINST Ballot Issue 1A: No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline. To: ALL REGISTERED VOTERS NOTICE OF ELECTION TO INCREASE TAXES ON A REFERRED MEASURE TOWN OF AVON, EAGLE COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO Designated Election Official: Miguel Jauregui Casanueva, Town Clerk 100 Mikaela Way P.O. Box 975 Avon, CO 81620 Telephone: 970-748-4000 Election Date: November 7, 2023 Election Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Town of Avon Ballot Issue 2A – Use Tax on Construction Materials SHALL TOWN OF AVON TAXES BE INCREASED SIX MILLION DOLLARS ($6,000,000.00) ANNUALLY IN 2024, AND BY WHATEVER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, BY THE IMPOSITION OF A FOUR PERCENT (4%) USE TAX ON THE PRIVILEGE OF USING OR CONSUMING IN THE TOWN ANY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, SUCH USE TAX REVENUES TO BE APPROPRIATED AND SPENT FOR ANY MUNICIPAL PURPOSE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH TERMS, CONDITIONS AND POLICIES AS MAY BE ADOPTED BY THE AVON TOWN COUNCIL, ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDINANCE NO. 23-04 ADOPTED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL; AND SHALL THE REVENUES COLLECTED FROM SUCH TAX AND ANY EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH REVENUES BE COLLECTED AND SPENT AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE LIMITS WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW? _____ YES/FOR _____ NO/AGAINST Fiscal Year Spending Information: 2023 (estimated) $ 36,129,316 2022 (actual) $ 36,707,154 2021 (actual) $ 32,669,324 2020 (actual) $ 27,655,006 2019 (actual) $ 26,721,671 Overall percentage change from 2019 to 2023: 35% Overall dollar change from 2019 to 2023: $ 9,407,625 FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR ESTIMATES: Estimated 2024 tax increase authorized by Ballot Issue 2A: $ 6,000,000 Estimated 2024 fiscal year spending without taking into account the tax increase authorized by Ballot Issue 2A: $ 41,436,488 Summary of Written Comments FOR Ballot Issue 2A: No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline. Summary of Written Comments AGAINST Ballot Issue 2A: No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline. To: ALL REGISTERED VOTERS NOTICE OF ELECTION TO INCREASE TAXES AND DEBT ON A REFERRED MEASURE EAGLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RE50J EAGLE, GARFIELD AND ROUTT COUNTIES, COLORADO Designated Election Official: Melissa Gerard, Designated Election Official Eagle County School District RE50J 948 Chambers Ave. Eagle, CO 81631 Telephone: (970) 328-6321 Election Date: November 7, 2023 Election Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eagle County School District RE50J Ballot Issue No. 5A SHALL EAGLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RE50J TAXES BE INCREASED $3.5 MILLION IN 2024 AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS AS GENERATED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY IMPOSITION OF A MILL LEVY WHICH GENERATES REVENUE, TOGETHER WITH REVENUES PRODUCED BY PREVIOUS VOTER AUTHORIZED TAX INCREASES, IS NOT GREATER THAN 25% OF THE DISTRICT’S TOTAL PROGRAM FUNDING PLUS Town of Avon Ballot Issue 2A – Use Tax on Construction Materials Eagle County School District RE50J Ballot Issue No. 5A 3 3 SUPPLEMENTAL COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: • ATTRACTING AND RETAINING QUALITY TEACHERS AND STAFF; • ENHANCING SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS; • PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING; • MAINTAINING PROGRAMS LIKE ART, MUSIC, TECHNOLOGY, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION; PROVIDED THAT NO REVENUE SHALL BE UTILIZED FOR SENIOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND THE DISTRICT WILL BE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDIT PUBLISHED ON THE DISTRICT’S WEBSITE; AND SHALL SUCH TAX INCREASE TO BE AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX MILL LEVY PURSUANT TO, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 22-54-108, C.R.S, IN EXCESS OF THE LEVY AUTHORIZED FOR THE DISTRICT’S GENERAL FUND; AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT, RETAIN AND SPEND ALL REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES AND THE EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH REVENUES AS VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION? _____ YES/FOR _____ NO/AGAINST Total District Fiscal Year Spending Fiscal Year 2023-2024 (estimated) $164,277,933 2022-2023 (actual) $141,807,506 2021-2022 (actual) $124,119,369 2020-2021 (actual) $112,322,113 2019-2020 (actual) $113,338,828 Overall percentage change from 2019-2020 to 2023-2024: 44.95% Overall dollar change from 2019-2020 to 2023-2024: $50,939,105 Proposed Tax Increase District Estimate of the Maximum Dollar Amount of the Proposed Tax Increase For Fiscal Year 2024-2025 (the First Full Fiscal Year of the Proposed Tax Increase): BALLOT ISSUE NO. 5A: $3,500,000 District Estimate of 2024-2025 Fiscal Year Spending Without the Proposed Tax Increase: $188,918,622 Summary of Written Comments FOR Ballot Issue No. 5A: Public education in Colorado has always been underfunded when compared to the rest of the country, and this is not changing anytime soon. To compensate for insufficient funding from the state level, school districts rely on their local communities to provide necessary funding through voter-approved property tax-generated investments in local schools. The nationwide shortage of qualified teachers has impacted every school district, including the Eagle County School District (ECSD). Retaining and attracting quality teachers and staff is especially challenging for ECSD because of the cost of living and lack of affordable housing. 5A will help ECSD compete for quality teachers and staff by increasing salaries and benefits, enabling the district to retain and recruit the best and brightest teachers and staff. $3 million of 5A funding will go to increasing teacher and staff salaries to keep ECSD salaries competitive with other school districts across the state and country. Funds from 5A will not be used to increase compensation for senior district administrators. The cost of living in Eagle County makes it difficult for teachers to stay here when other districts in the Front Range are offering higher salaries. ECSD wants to stay in the top 10 of the 178 school districts in Colorado for teacher pay to keep the quality teachers we already have and attract more of the best teachers to our schools. School safety and security are a key priority, as is providing much needed student mental health services and counseling supports to ensure the success of every child. ECSD is completing an assessment of its safety and security protocols across the district and based on the recommendations of this study, 5A will enhance the safety and security for schools and classrooms. 5A will also provide immense value to students and staff and help address ongoing challenges following the pandemic. Programs and services dedicated to pandemic recovery need additional funding. 5A will provide critical student support services including mental health counseling, suicide prevention programs, and intervention specialists to work with students. 5A will also allow the district to maintain and expand programs including art, music, technology, and physical education improving academic performance opportunities and preparing students for college, entering the workforce, and to be well rounded successful individuals with bright futures. ECSD has an opportunity to benefit from Eagle County’s increased assessed property values to fund the mill levy opportunity and finance building employee housing and early childcare education facilities without incrementally adding to property taxes. ECSD does not receive a windfall from increased assessed property values but will benefit from the overall increase in property tax collections due to the increase in property values. In fact, because education funding in Colorado is capped by the School Finance Act and its complicated formula, ECSD will need to reduce its mill levy next year by 2 mills to stay within the requirements of capped funding. Voter approval of both 5A and 5B does not create an increase in the total mill levy paid to ECSD. Summary of Written Comments AGAINST Ballot Issue No. 5A: No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline. To: ALL REGISTERED VOTERS NOTICE OF ELECTION TO INCREASE TAXES AND DEBT ON A REFERRED MEASURE EAGLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RE50J EAGLE, GARFIELD AND ROUTT COUNTIES, COLORADO Designated Election Official: Melissa Gerard, Designated Election Official Eagle County School District RE50J Eagle County School District RE50J Ballot Issue No. 5B 4 4 948 Chambers Ave. Eagle, CO 81631 Telephone: (970) 328-6321 Election Date: November 7, 2023 Election Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eagle County School District RE50J Ballot Issue No. 5B WITHOUT IMPOSING ANY NEW TAX, SHALL EAGLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RE50J DEBT BE INCREASED $100 MILLION, WITH A MAXIMUM TOTAL REPAYMENT COST OF NOT MORE THAN $195 MILLION FOR THE PURPOSES OF: • CONSTRUCTING EMPLOYEE HOUSING; • ENHANCING SAFETY AND SECURITY OF SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS; • EXPANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE SERVICES BY BUILDING THE GYPSUM EARLY LEARNING CENTER AND EXPANDING THE EDWARDS EARLY LEARNING CENTER; • ADDRESSING CRITICAL SCHOOL REPAIRS INCLUDING ROOF AND HVAC REPLACEMENTS; AND • UPDATING PLAYGROUNDS, GYMS, LOCKER ROOMS AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES; AND FOR ACQUIRING, CONSTRUCTING OR IMPROVING ANY CAPITAL ASSETS THAT THE DISTRICT IS AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO OWN; AND SHALL THE TAXES AUTHORIZED AT THE DISTRICT’S BOND ELECTIONS IN 2006 AND 2016 BE EXTENDED AND AUTHORIZED TO BE USED TO PAY THE DEBT AUTHORIZED AT THIS ELECTION IN ADDITION TO THE DEBT AUTHORIZED AT SUCH PRIOR ELECTIONS; AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDIT PUBLISHED ON THE DISTRICT’S WEBSITE AND EXPENDITURES WILL BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY A BOARD APPOINTED CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE? _____ YES/FOR _____ NO/AGAINST Fiscal Year 2023-2024 (estimated) $164,277,933 2022-2023 (actual) $141,807,506 2021-2022 (actual) $124,119,369 2020-2021 (actual) $112,322,113 2019-2020 (actual) $113,338,828 Overall percentage change from 2019-2020 to 2023-2024: 44.95% Overall dollar change from 2019-2020 to 2023-2024: $50,939,105 Information on District’s Proposed Debt BALLOT ISSUE NO. 5B: Principal Amount of Proposed Bonds: Not to exceed $100,000,000 Maximum Annual District Repayment Cost: Not to exceed $33,500,000 Total District Repayment Cost: Not to exceed $195,000,000 Information on District’s Current Debt* Principal Amount Outstanding Debt: $186,320,000 Maximum Annual Repayment Cost: $20,629,152 Remaining Total Repayment Cost: $247,111,408 *Excluded from debt are enterprise and annual appropriation obligations Summary of Written Comments FOR Ballot Issue No. 5B: 5B asks voters to approve a $100 million bond – a method of debt financing – to invest in capital projects. 5B provides the Eagle County School District (ECSD) with needed funds to build more employee housing, make safety and security improvements at local schools, build a new early learning center in Gypsum and expand existing programs, and complete other maintenance and improvements at local schools including updating playgrounds, gyms, locker rooms, and athletic facilities. Affordable housing is linked to the ability to recruit and retain quality teachers and staff. Finding affordable housing is a question new employees think about before deciding to accept a position and move to the school district. This fall, ECSD is finishing construction of Miller Flats, located next to Battle Mountain High School. They had 150 employees apply for the development’s 37 units. Building new affordable housing helps the district be more competitive in what they have to offer employees and makes ECSD more attractive to the quality educators we want and need to bring to our community. 5B increases childcare and preschool programs to support families in our community. Access to safe childcare services and preschool helps prepare our young children to enter Kindergarten ready to learn at grade level. The Gypsum area has seen growth in more young families and these families need safe and quality childcare and preschool facilities for their children to attend. If families know their children have a great place to go for childcare and preschool, then they are able to go to work and contribute to our local economy. 5B will allow ECSD to expand early childhood education and childcare services by building an early learning center in Gypsum and expanding capacity at the Edwards Early Learning Center. Every year we hear of more violence and safety issues in schools, and every school district considers safety a top priority. ECSD must also maintain its current facilities and have funds for improvements to keep our school buildings running efficiently and safely. 5B provides funds to replace, update, or repair roofs, HVAC, playgrounds, gyms, locker rooms, and athletic facilities which will improve learning environments and extend the useful life of existing facilities. ECSD has an opportunity to benefit from Eagle County’s increased assessed property values to fund the mill levy opportunity and finance building employee housing and early childcare education facilities without incrementally adding to property taxes. ECSD does not receive a windfall from increased assessed property values but will benefit from the overall increase in property tax collections due to the increase in property values. In fact, because education funding in Colorado is capped by the School Finance Act and its complicated formula, ECSD will need to reduce its mill levy next year by 2 mills to stay within the requirements of capped funding. Voter approval of both 5A and 5B does not create an increase in the total mill levy paid to ECSD. Summary of Written Comments AGAINST Ballot Issue No. 5B: No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline. 5 5 To: ALL REGISTERED VOTERS NOTICE OF ELECTION TO INCREASE TAXES AND DEBT ON A REFERRED MEASURE EAGLE AND PITKIN COUNTIES, COLORADO Designated Election Official: Jennifer Thompson, Designated Election Official Basalt & Rural Fire Protection District 1089 W. JW Drive Carbondale, Colorado 81623 Telephone: (970) 340-7035 Election Date: November 7, 2023 Election Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Basalt and Rural Fire Protection District Ballot Issue No. 7A SHALL BASALT AND RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT DEBT BE INCREASED $26 MILLION, WITH A REPAYMENT COST OF UP TO $42 MILLION, AND SHALL DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED $2.1 MILLION ANNUALLY TO PAY SUCH DEBT, SUCH DEBT TO BE USED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING: • EXPANSION, RENOVATION, AND MODERNIZATION OF FIRE STATION 42 IN EL JEBEL, INCLUDING ADDING CREW QUARTERS TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL 24 HOUR STAFFING AND RESPONSE CAPABILITY, AND ADDING TRAINING AND MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AND EMPLOYEE HOUSING; SUCH DEBT TO BE EVIDENCED BY THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OR ANY OTHER MULTIPLE YEAR FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OF THE DISTRICT; SUCH BONDS TO BE SOLD IN ONE SERIES OR MORE, FOR A PRICE ABOVE OR BELOW THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SUCH SERIES, ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AND WITH SUCH MATURITIES AS PERMITTED BY LAW AND AS THE DISTRICT MAY DETERMINE, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR REDEMPTION OF THE BONDS PRIOR TO MATURITY WITH OR WITHOUT PAYMENT OF THE PREMIUM OF NOT TO EXCEED THREE PERCENT; AND SHALL SUCH TAX REVENUES AND THE EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH BOND PROCEEDS AND TAX REVENUES BE COLLECTED, RETAINED AND SPENT AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW? _____ YES/FOR _____ NO/AGAINST Total District Fiscal Year Spending Fiscal Year 2023 (estimated) $ 4,328,846 2022 (actual) $ 4,789,259 2021 (actual) $ 5,293,828 2020 (actual) $ 3,725,004 2019 (actual) $ 3,345,983 Overall percentage change from 2019 to 2023: 23% Overall dollar change from 2019 to 2023: $ 982,863 Proposed Tax Increase District Estimate of the Maximum Dollar Amount of the Proposed Tax Increase For Fiscal Year 2024 (the First Full Fiscal Year of the Proposed Tax Increase): BALLOT ISSUE NO. 7A: $2,100,000 District Estimate of 2024 Fiscal Year Spending Without the Proposed Tax Increase: $6,133,992 Information on District’s Proposed Debt BALLOT ISSUE NO. 7A: Principal Amount of Proposed Bonds: Not to exceed $26,000,000 Maximum Annual District Repayment Cost: Not to exceed $ 2,100,000 Total District Repayment Cost: Not to exceed $42,000,000 Information on District’s Current Debt Principal Amount Outstanding Debt: $2,610,000 Maximum Annual Repayment Cost: $262,800 Remaining Total Repayment Cost: $3,384,397 Summary of Written Comments FOR Ballot Issue No. 7A: If passed, this funding will be utilized to support emergency services, personnel, and facilities to save lives and property in the mid-valley. Basalt & Rural Fire serves everyone by directly protecting their lives and property or indirectly for those driving through the District on Hwy 82. Emergency services operate in minutes and seconds but when resources are inadequate you and your family are at risk. This funding will ensure the District can maintain adequate staffing levels, keep equipment operational, and procure additional equipment, supplies, and training for our firefighters to mitigate emergency calls effectively and efficiently. Skyrocketing housing costs in the Roaring Fork Valley have significantly impacted the District’s ability to hire and retain qualified firefighters and EMTs. Many of our current employees live outside the District and commute long distances. This funding will support the construction of six additional employee housing units. Training firefighters and EMTs is an ongoing challenge since most training opportunities are on the Front Range and involve considerable costs for travel and lodging. This funding will allow the District to build its training facility, keeping our personnel local and available to respond to emergencies. With increasing fire hazards in the rural parts of our counties, it is critical that we continue to invest in fire protection, management, and emergency response. Current catastrophic fires in the western US and Hawaiian Islands underscore the need for staffing, training and preparation to deal with unprecedented hazards and unimaginable losses in life and property. A yes on Ballot question 7A. Provide for increased staffing and equipment improvements at the El Jebel station which was ground zero in our firefighting effort of 2018. This set of planning improvements with its staffing expansion and improvements will substantially improve our firefighting capabilities and will support Basalt and Rural Fire Protection District Ballot Issue No. 7A 6 6 fire prevention, education, and implementation of defensible space planning. The costs as presented are a worst-case financial scenario based on current high interest rates which by all forecasts are likely to decline in the future. This will result in more of the district tax revenue to principal reduction and lower interest costs. Continued fire district improvements will create a more favorable environment for the availability and cost for home hazard insurance which is getting more difficult to find with every passing day. Improved fire response will demonstrate our community’s commitment to fire management and prevention. Summary of Written Comments AGAINST Ballot Issue No. 7A: Please vote "NO" on Basalt and Rural Fire Protection District Ballot Issue No. 7A. Now is not the time to add more to our property taxes bills. Property owners are bracing for a huge hike in property taxes due to soaring property values. The district could see a huge windfall in revenues. Plus, voters already approved a substantial mill levy increase in 2012. The ballot language asks: “…Shall District Taxes be increased $2.1 million annually to pay such debt?” That much of an annual increase is unreasonable. Per Pitkin County Abstract of Assessment for Basalt & Rural Fire Protection as follows: Year Assessed Valuation Mill Levy Tax Revenue 2010 $214,088,460 5.464 $1,169,779 2011 $148,126,450 5.772 $854,986 2012 $149,801,820 8.857 $1,326,795 2013 $130,188,790 8.981 $1,169,225 2014 $130,560,890 8.962 $1,170,086 2015 $140,002,320 9.102 $1,274,302 2016 $139,813,690 8.892 $1,243,224 2017 $137,256,910 8.852 $1,214,998 2018 $137,375,383 8.852 $1,216,047 2019 $165,045,620 8.745 $1,443,324 2020 $161,363,770 9.115 $1,470,830 2021 $168,834,670 8.822 $1,489,458 2022 $170,196,180 8.834 $1,503,513 2023 ~$310,000,000 ?? ?? Also, how is the additional $26 million dollars going to be spent? How much is the land? How much is the construction costs for the crew quarters? How much for the remodel of the fire station? How much for additional staffing? How long will it take to pay the debt off? Will taxes go down after the debt is paid? Voters need to know how the increase in property values will affect their taxes before voting on any new tax. More information is needed before voters approve this. Vote “no” on 7A. END OF BALLOT ISSUE NOTICE As required by Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S. § 1-7-905), I hereby certify the ballot issue notices are complete as submitted by the political subdivisions. Regina O’Brien Eagle County Clerk & Recorder 7