The Estes Valley Fire Protection District Board voted Monday unanimously to ask voters in the Nov. 3 election to approve a half-cent sales tax that would provide the district with an independent source of revenue.
The board approved Resolution 2026-07, calling for a special election on the sales tax question and appointing an election official. The proposed 0.5% tax would add one-half cent to every dollar spent within the district.
A poll of 376 district residents conducted June 9-16 found that 82% supported giving the fire district an independent source of revenue through a half-cent sales tax. The FrederickPolls, conducted by telephone, cellphone, and text, had a margin of error of 5.1 percentage points.
The district is seeking financial independence from the Town of Estes Park, which provides the EVFPD with 7% of the town’s sales tax revenue. That contribution currently amounts to about $1.35 million annually.
Some or all of that money is expected to be redirected toward a proposed public safety facility that will house the Estes Park Police Department, a new jail and sally port, and an incident command center.
The Town Board designated a site at Manford Avenue and Community Drive and authorized initial planning but has not approved construction. The proposal is expected to return to the trustees for consideration in the coming months.
The fire district’s ballot language identifies several potential uses for the new sales tax revenue, including:
- maintaining its wildland firefighting capabilities, risk reduction program, firefighting apparatus, and volunteer firefighting program, including specialized or upgraded equipment and firefighter training
- maintaining fire apparatus and equipment to extend their useful lives
- replacing or upgrading firefighting vehicles, communication systems, safety gear, and other equipment and apparatus; and funding volunteer firefighting, general and specialized training opportunities, and overall program support.
Fire Chief Kevin Nunn and district staff worked with the town and Larimer County to estimate the tax would generate about $3.5 million annually. Nunn said the district also worked with county election officials and local emergency communications personnel to verify property addresses and voter registration information within the district, which includes the town and the surrounding area in unincorporated Larimer County.
The district must now certify the ballot language for placement on the Nov. 3 ballot. A notice required under the Colorado Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights is expected to be distributed in September.
In other business
The district’s financial report showed property tax revenue was nearly $56,000 below budget through July. However, tax revenue exceeded projections for July and also was above budget in August, helping close the year-to-date gap. The district’s accountant attributed the variance largely to the timing of tax collections and distributions.
Finance and audit expenses and legal costs were over budget for the month. The accountant said the audit variance resulted from invoices received after the district completed its annual audit and predicted the category would finish the year on budget. Legal expenses remained consistent with the district’s year-to-date spending.
The district has also begun providing separate balance sheets and income statements for its general fund and Wildland Risk Reduction Fund. Revenue from the voter-approved 1A sales tax is now recorded in the Wildland Risk Reduction Fund. The district also transferred $158,000 into its impact fee fund, a change that will appear in the August financial statements.
The board unanimously approved the district’s July transactions.
During his report to the board, Nunn recommended to the board and the members of the fire district the publication “America Burning: The Report of the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control,” a landmark study about the condition of American firefighting. Nunn said the seminal document, published more than 50 years ago, is an important historical overview that led Congress to pass the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, established the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Academy, and helped set today’s best practices and standards.
The district’s wildfire risk reduction program has completed 103 home assessments so far this year, according to a report presented by Jon Lamkammer. The district also recently hired a wildfire risk reduction education specialist who previously spent 10 years in a similar position with the Grand Junction Fire Department.
The district’s fire academy has 11 students enrolled and begins its sixth week Thursday. The 14-week program provides hands-on instruction in interior and exterior firefighting, with some students completing an additional four weeks of hazardous materials training. Graduation is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6.
EVFPD auxiliary members installed 206 smoke alarms in 32 homes through a community fire-safety initiative using alarms provided by the American Red Cross.
Members of the EVFPD will participate in the Estes Valley 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb & 5K. The event takes place at the Estes Park Visitor Center parking garage, 691 N. Saint Vrain Ave., and honors those lost that day, including the 343 New York firefighters who died responding to the World Trade Center. Funds raised support the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
The next meeting of the EVFPD board will be Sept. 28.
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