Following a 90-minute study session on Monday, the Estes Valley Fire Protection District board voted April 27 to authorize Interim Chief Warren Jones to issue a request for proposals for an election consulting firm as it weighs when to ask voters to approve a new tax.
During the study session, Jones said the District must plan for long-term financial independence as the Town of Estes Park considers redirecting revenue it currently shares with the district to help fund a proposed public safety center.
“I don’t think any organization wants to have more than half of their revenue tied to a contract with somebody else,” Jones said.
The District currently receives a portion of Town sales tax revenue through an intergovernmental agreement. Town Administrator Travis Machalek said officials are not seeking to abruptly end that funding but want to collaborate as the Town develops a financing plan.
The proposed $30 million to $34 million public safety facility would house the Estes Park Police Department and include a regional emergency operations center for use during wildfires, floods, and other incidents.
Police Chief Ian Stewart told the EVFPD board that the current police facility no longer meets operational needs and emphasized the broader purpose of the project.
“We’re not trying to build a new police department here,” Stewart said. “We’re truly trying to build a new public safety building.”
Machalek said the Town is assembling a financing package that includes expiring debt and existing reserves. Debt tied to the Estes Park Events Complex will be paid off in 2027, freeing general fund revenue. Parking garage debt will be retired in 2032, and about $1.5 million has been set aside in a capital reserve fund from higher-than-expected 2025 revenues.
A fourth potential funding source is the sales tax revenue currently shared with the District.
Since 2024, fire districts have been allowed to levy their own sales tax. That option was not available when voters approved the district’s formation in 2009. The district separated from the Town in 2010.
Jones said the District is evaluating options that could include a sales tax or property tax. He noted the District’s current mill levy of 2.069 mills is among the lowest in Colorado and said rising costs are straining resources.
Those costs include fire apparatus replacement, protective equipment, radios, training, volunteer recruitment, wildfire response, and potential upgrades to or replacement of the Dannels Fire Station. The district’s fleet is valued at about $20 million, with no dedicated replacement funding. A single fire engine can cost $2 million or more and take up to three years to deliver, Jones said.
Board members discussed whether to pursue a ballot measure as early as November 2026 or wait until 2027. Jones said successful campaigns require extensive public outreach, polling, and legal work. A one- to two-year campaign could cost $100,000 to $150,000.
Former EVFPD chief and current board member Scott Dorman cautioned against moving too quickly, citing the district’s failed 2023 mill levy proposal. Board member Jon “Hippy” Smith said heightened wildfire concerns due to the current drought conditions and higher midterm turnout could favor a 2026 effort.
Jones emphasized the need to clearly define the District’s financial needs before deciding how to proceed. “The needs and the why need to be tied down before we jump into the how,” he said.
During the board meeting, the board authorized Jones to engage an election consulting firm to discuss the pros and cons of pursuing a ballot question this fall and to report back to the board in early May. Board members also discussed meeting again during the week of May 11 to review next steps based on the consultant’s advice.