The lone Carbondale-area specific questions on the Nov. 4 mail ballot would address anticipated general fund, equipment replacement and staffing shortcomings within the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District (CRFPD).
The District’s board of directors decided earlier this year to seek voter approval for a 1.5% sales tax to serve as a new funding source for the district (Question 7D on the ballot), as now allowed by state law.
In addition, Question 7E on the local ballot would allow the fire district’s debt to be increased by $30 million through a bond issue to help address staffing concerns through the construction of workforce housing, and to replace and upgrade stations.
As a result of property valuation and tax adjustments from 2024, fire districts across Colorado are expecting to see declining revenues.
For the Carbondale Fire District, that amount is expected to be more than $1 million per year, according to district officials.
Even without that decline, the District has had difficulty in recent years keeping up with ever-increasing service demands and holding onto staff. The situation was detailed in a Sopris Sun article that appeared in June.
To help offset property tax revenue losses, the Colorado Legislature adjusted Title 32 to allow certain special districts, with voter approval, to levy sales taxes. The new provision took effect on July 1 this year.
“Our board felt like a sales tax would be a way to diversify our funding a little bit, so that anyone who shops in Carbondale can help support these services,” District spokesperson Jenny Cutright said.
Those services of course extend to anyone visiting the area who may be involved in a vehicle accident, require a rescue or have a medical emergency, she said.
One change since the sales tax was first discussed is that the tax rate would not ratchet down every five years and then sunset. Instead, the ballot question calls for a new dedicated revenue source in perpetuity.
The new sales tax would exclude certain necessities, such as basic groceries, medications, fuel and diapers, and still raise about $3.7 million annually, according to the proposal.
“This funding will ensure the District can maintain adequate staffing levels, keep equipment operational and procure additional equipment, supplies and training for firefighters to mitigate emergency calls effectively and efficiently,” according to a summary of written comments in favor of Question 7D that was submitted to Garfield County election officials.
A summary of the two ballot questions was included in a Tabor Notice mailed in September to all registered voters in the county.
Passage of the measure would also “provide funding for emergency apparatus/vehicle replacement on a prudent and regular schedule.”
Question 7E is aimed at allowing the District to “recruit and retain the highest quality people to serve as firefighters and paramedics to the communities in which they live,” according to the summary in support of that measure.
Workforce housing is crucial in that effort, supporters say.
“CRFPD’s ability to support our people in this way is one of the most powerful tools … to eliminate employee ‘churn’ and keep excellent responders here for the long term,” it continues. “Without this, CRFPD will inevitably begin to look like many other fire departments that have high rates of employee and volunteer turnover.”
No comments were filed with county election officials in opposition to the two ballot questions.More information about the measures can be found on the campaign’s dedicated Facebook page.