Basalt may see ballot measure for sales tax to pay for police, public works building
One half cent for every dollar spent, tax still lower than neighboring municipalities
River Stingray/The Aspen Times
Basalt voters may be asked to weigh in on funding for the Basalt Police and Public Works facility that the town hopes to construct at the old Umbrella Roofing building at Original Road and Highway 82.
The building came into the town’s possession when they purchased the land in 2022. Umbrella Roofing has been out of the building for roughly two years, according to roofing company staff.
Basalt’s Town Council has been discussing the construction of a new, modern facility that would house both the Basalt Police Department and the Basalt Public Works Department. Both departments have presented at recent council meetings and discussed why their current facilities are too cramped.
“This is needed — not just from a functionality standpoint — with police and public works in their current state,” Mayor David Knight said at Basalt Town Council’s Tuesday evening meeting. “Also for attracting and retaining talent and making sure we can continue to provide the best services, not just now, but decades in the future.”
Some of the funding for the building, around $7 million, would come from Basalt’s General Fund. But the project is currently estimated to cost around $25 million total, according to the town’s “Let’s Talk Basalt” website where it posts about ongoing and future projects.
In order to pay for the remaining costs, the town is discussing putting a question to Basalt voters in November about raising sales taxes by a half cent per dollar of sales, increasing Basalt sales tax from 8.45% to 8.95%.
“Let’s Talk Basalt” points out that this still keeps Basalt sales tax below many neighboring communities — Glenwood Springs has a sales tax of 9.35%, Carbondale has a sales tax of 10.15% and Aspen has a sales tax of 10.35%.
In order to gauge support for the potential tax, the town is hosting a survey on “Let’s Talk Basalt” where individuals can provide input. Basalt Town Council has not yet decided whether it will put the sales tax question on the ballot and has discussed alternatives in prior town council sessions.
The alternatives discussed at the time included pulling funding from a Parks, Open Space and Trails sales tax that already exists. But because that would lead to reduced funding for the Parks, Open Space and Trails, it is not a preferred option for council.
Basalt voters can find information on the project and a link to the survey on the sales tax at letstalk.basalt.net/public-facilities.
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