The Estes Valley Recreation and Park District should begin considering whether to ask voters to extend the property tax assessment that helps fund operations at the Estes Valley Community Center, Executive Director Tom Carosello told the board during its May 19 meeting.
Although no immediate decision is required, Carosello said board members will be asked to share their opinions in the coming months.
Voters approved the tax measure in 2015. The assessment is scheduled to sunset after tax collections in 2027. Revenue from the tax provides up to $200,000 annually to support the community center’s operations.
“We’re certainly not going to put this on the ballot this year, unless that is the board’s desire, in which case we have to scramble [to get] the language ready by August and try to get it on for November,” Carosello said.
“The first question is, do you want to extend the tax? Second question would be for how long,” Carosello said to the board, adding that a decision about whether to ask for $200,000 or a different amount also would be needed.
Carosello said that more internal study of the district’s finances is necessary before asking the board to make a final decision on the tax. “We definitely don’t want to put it in front of voters without doing some homework, without sending a good message,” Carosello said, noting that expenses continue to escalate.
The current tax “pumps $200,000 into the operation of the building, not to furnish and equip, not anything physical, not chairs, not HVAC systems,” Carosello explained.
If the tax sunsets, Carosello said that while the community center would not close, “there would be some stark changes to staffing,” and that finances could affect other operational areas as well.
In gauging public sentiment toward approving a tax increase, Carosello pointed to results from last year’s public survey, which showed that 74 percent of respondents were likely or very likely to vote for a tax increase.
When the tax was put before the voters in 2015, the recreation district was working to gain community approval for the construction of the community center. At that time, the district noted that operational expenses included utilities, custodial and maintenance staff, programming staff including lifeguards, supervisory staff, and contract instructors, insurance, and funds set aside for future maintenance.
The Estes Valley Community Center officially opened in March 2018, following voter approval of bond issues for construction and operations.
In another action, former board member Dan Derman was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Heather Bradley, who resigned from the board on April 14. The term of office ends in May 2027. Derman was a candidate for the board in the May 2025 elections but received fewer votes than the two elected candidates.
Retaining the precedent of appointing to vacant positions the candidate receiving the next-highest number of votes to those elected, the board named Derman to the open position.
During the meeting, the board also voted to approve trails funding not to exceed $15,000 for a soft-surface trail connection between Mary’s Lake and the Thumb Open Space. The approval is contingent upon the Estes Park Cycling Coalition contributing a minimum of $3,000 to the project.
The coalition, represented by Todd Plummer, offered to provide volunteer labor, on-site coordination, and project oversight through the district’s volunteer program. The trail still needs final approval from the Bureau of Land Reclamation, which owns the right-of-way where the trail will be located, although prior conversations with bureau representatives indicate the project will be approved.
It was also noted that terrain conditions likely will result in needing to use a mini excavator and additional support to complete the trail