In the wake of the failure of Proposition HH, temporary mill levy rate reductions were enabled by Senate Bill 23-108 to offset significantly increased property taxes. It’s up to each taxing district to decide what level of relief it will provide, balancing the district’s needs with those of its constituents.
During the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District’s (CRFPD) board meeting on Jan. 10, attendees argued that the minutes from the December meeting did not reflect public comments given at the time, in regard to the 2024 budget. The board voted to update the December minutes to better represent the public’s feedback, and will wait to approve them during its February meeting.
According to the December minutes, CRFPD Chief Rob Goodwin had “reviewed the assessed valuation history since 2011, noting that the district lost 42% of the total assessed valuation due to the Great Recession. It was noted that the district’s assessed valuation did not reach the 2011 level until 2024.” This point set the tone for the board’s predicament: balancing the expectations of the organization and the public’s outcry for tax relief.

Public comment
“I would again encourage you to look at reducing your mill levy, because this situation will happen next year and likely the year after that when there’s a new assessment and evaluation, and, based on my experience, that number will go up, and, again, your revenues will continue to go up,” resident Davis Farrar told the board during the January meeting. “I understand there’s a need for money and an ever-increasing need for money, but frugality is not a bad thing to have.”
One younger resident, Taylor Rogers, acknowledged that it’s hard for people her age to purchase homes in the area, but questioned how a tax credit might affect the fire department. “What gets taken out on your end — services, equipment, that kind of thing — if you were to give a credit back?” she queried.
Goodwin was frank, replying that a tax credit “will push back capital improvement projects, new equipment purchases and will hinder our reserve ability.” He added that it’s been a challenge to ensure sufficient staffing levels in recent years, and that’s also a factor.
Resident Allyn Harvey encouraged the board to consider a tax credit this year and see what the state “comes up with” for next year, noting that taxing districts could very well be in the same situation then.
Harvey pointed to Colorado Mountain College (CMC) as a shining example, compared to other local taxing districts, when it came to reducing its mill levy. CMC’s board of trustees certified a temporary mill levy rate reduction of 1.264, allowing “the college to provide more than $25 million in property tax relief in the upcoming year,” according to a CMC press release.
“I think it’s incumbent on this board to do the same,” stated Harvey.

Board response
“When I look at an outfit like CMC saying, ‘We’re only going to take an inflationary factor,’ that may work for them for the way that their programs are operated,” noted board member Michael Hassig. “The assumption that you just take a little bit starts from a premise that things were good to start with — that last year worked,” he continued. “I think what Rob [Goodwin] and staff are trying to demonstrate is that for a dozen years this district has been completely hamstrung in terms of what we can afford to provide.”
Hassig cautioned that the fire department will face the effects of climate change and resulting wildfire challenges. “I see challenges around demographics, an aging population, and I see challenges around expectations,” he continued, “what people expect us to be able to do when we respond.” He added that costs, even when it comes to things like training volunteers, are not what they used to be.
“So, yeah. We’re going to give some money back … but we’re going to keep some of it, too,” Hassig concluded.
Board member Mike Kennedy echoed Hassig, and added that the area’s significant population influx means more calls and higher expectations for response.
Sydney Schalit, who has been on the board for about five years, noted that this is only the second meeting where she’s seen public attendance — the first time being the meeting in December.
“The most important value to me as a board member, is the safety and security of this community,” said Schalit. “Retention of the team we have, and growth to really meet the need that the growth of this community is facing, is a critical piece for me.”
Noting the board’s intention to provide a temporary tax credit, Schalit added, “We will be doing a reassessment every year until the state … gives us some direction.” She concluded, “The underlying frustration around the cost of living here is felt by everyone on the board, by everyone on the team, for sure, and, obviously, by all of you.”
Board President Gene Schilling chimed in that the day before the January meeting, 13 calls were made to CRFPD in a 24-hour period.
The board voted unanimously on a slew of resolutions to effectively adopt the 2024 budget and account for a temporary one mill rate reduction, roughly a 30% difference from its assessed increase, reducing CRFPD’s 2024 estimated property tax revenue by $647,979.

To review the board minutes and 2024 budget, visit www.carbondalefire.org