First votes counted on Basalt issues signal support for tax retention, increases

Initial voters support retaining current mill levy

Editor’s note: The Aspen Times will continue to update vote tallies as results are counted.

As of 9:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, with 36.06% of the Pitkin County vote in, Basalt Regional Library District Issue 7B saw 655 votes for the issue, or 76.25%, and 204 votes against, or 23.75%. 

The Eagle County portion of the Basalt Regional Library District also leaned toward support with 38.32% of the vote in. There were 1,592 votes for the issue, or 77.77%, and 455 votes against, or 22.23%.

The issue asked whether the Basalt Regional Library District could make permanent a 1.08 mill levy that was originally imposed to help pay down debt incurred to construct the current building. The mill levy produces about $67 on a home with an actual value of $1 million in the regional library district. 

The mil levy would expire this year, following the repayment of the debt, one year ahead of schedule.

Proponents of the ballot issue said that retaining the mill levy and redirecting the funds from debt repayment to library services would allow the library to offer competitive wages for staff, extend hours, increase community access to books and the internet, and provide other potential benefits. 

Opponents to the issue said that retaining a mill levy that was set to expire represents a “tax increase,” not a maintenance of current property tax levels. Additionally, they have argued that the library has been able to offer services at current funding levels while maintaining a fund balance.

Initial votes support lodging tax increase

As of 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the town of Basalt’s Issue 3A, with 32.35% of the vote in, an increase in the lodging tax for affordable housing in Basalt, saw 254 votes for the issue, or 76.74%, and 77 votes against, or 23.26%. 

As with the library, the Eagle County portion of Basalt leaned toward support of the lodging tax increase with 551 votes for the issue, or 66.23%, and 281 votes against, or 33.77%.

The issue asked whether voters in the town of Basalt wanted to see an increase in lodging taxes from 4% to 6% on short-term rentals, or stays of less than 30 days. The money generated by the tax would be put into a separate fund for affordable housing through a variety of means, including property purchases, redevelopments, public-private partnerships, and more.