Ballot measure 7A narrowly passing in Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin Counties

As of 8:50 p.m. Tuesday, ballot measure 7A, which supports early childhood development services, is leading by around 3,112 votes — a narrow 18% — during the 2025 coordinated election.

Around 17,384 votes were cast in Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin Counties. Around 55% of Garfield, 65% of Eagle and 65% of Pitkin voters are in favor of the measure, which would create a special tax district that will help fund early childhood development services through a 0.25% sales tax in Garfield, Pitkin and southwestern Eagle counties.

Expected to generate around $12 million annually, the tax would be levied to help alleviate early childhood care and education expenses through tuition credits for families within the special district. It would also fund local provider grants that will boost existing child care programs, help fund the creation of new programs and increase wages for early childhood teachers. 

“This is a great night for kids from Parachute to Aspen. Voters across the region clearly understand the importance of ensuring our children have a strong start and a bright future,” Strong Start Bright Future Campaign Outreach Director Maggie Tiscornia said in a Tuesday night news release. “They are voting to create a more affordable, more accessible, more welcoming community for families with young children and that will create a stronger, more vibrant region for us all.”

Essential items such as groceries, diapers, medicine, medical equipment, gas and feminine hygiene products would be exempt from the tax.

The special tax district is being proposed by the Confluence Early Childhood Education Coalition, a group of parents, business, education and non-profit leaders who live and work in the Parachute to Aspen region. 

“We are really encouraged by the strong early results on measure 7A and will continue monitoring closely until there is an official result,” Tiscornia added. “For now, (we are) grateful for the strong community support we’ve had throughout the campaign – and feeling good that it is translating to strong support among voters.”