Pitkin County endorses measure 7B, noting strengths of Basalt Library

Pitkin County Commissioners heard a request to endorse ballot measure 7B on Wednesday, which would extend an expiring 1.08 mill levy that helps Basalt Regional Library pay employee wages, keep up with building maintenance, and fund library services without raising taxes. 

A mill levy is a property tax rate applied to a property’s assessed value. Ultimately, the Board of County Commissioners approved the resolution to endorse measure 7B, which keeps the mill levy. The four commissioners present — Francie Jacober was not there — voted in favor at the Oct. 8 meeting. 

“I don’t think there’s much dissent about the value of the library,” Commissioner Greg Poschman said. “The thing that strikes me is what you did with the money the first time around — you built an amazing facility. It’s an inspiration. It’s a useful meeting place. The art that’s in it, the books that are in it, the way it’s laid out — it’s a sanctuary.”

This endorsement follows in the footsteps of Basalt Town Council, who took a similar endorsement stance toward the measure two weeks prior on Sept. 24. 

“The property tax was used to pay the debt to build our beautiful building,” Amy Shipley, the executive director at the Basalt Regional Library, said at Wednesday’s meeting. “We have paid the final payment on that building, and we’d like to extend that mill levy at a rate of 1.08 mills into perpetuity for operations and maintenance of our beautiful library.”

The extension of the mill levy would not raise taxes. And, according to the Basalt Regional Library’s website, the 1.08 mill is treated as a ceiling, not a floor expectation. This means that the library may not always collect the full 1.08 mills to meet funding requirements. The website states that for current 2026 budget projections, they are anticipating that they will not need to collect the full 1.08 mills.

“We don’t want to unnecessarily burden taxpayers,” said Shipley in an interview. “So we want to find the balance of providing the level of library that our community wants and needs and not overburdening the taxpayer.”

“I think this is critical,” Commissioner Jeffrey Woodruff said. “It’s an essential mid-valley amenity. It’s an incredible shape. Thank you, Amy, for being the steward and having a great team and a great library in Basalt for both residents of Pitkin and Eagle County.” 

In-person voting will be possible from Monday, Oct. 27, to Tuesday, Nov. 4, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Election Day, Nov. 4, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting will not be possible on Sunday, Nov. 2.