What Roaring Fork Valley voters can expect to see on their tax bill if local ballot issues pass

Voters should expect some changes to their tax bill if the series of taxation issues in November’s election should pass. Many of the changes would come through a two-fold approach: sales taxes and property taxes.

Sales tax changes

Aspen residents currently pay 9.3% in total sales taxes, meaning for every $100 purchase, they will pay an additional $9.30. Snowmass residents pay 10.4% in sales tax, and Basalt residents pay 8.2%, according to Colorado Sales Tax Lookup, a state resource. 

If local issues pass, as outlined below, Aspen residents would see an additional 1.05% sales tax. Snowmass, Basalt, and Pitkin County residents who live outside of Aspen would see an additional 0.25% sales tax.

Aspen voters will decide whether to approve a 0.3% sales tax to help fund the Aspen School District, issue 2A, which would double the existing 0.3% sales tax directed toward the school to 0.6%. They will also decide whether to approve a potential sales tax from the Aspen Fire Protection District, issue 6A: a 0.5% tax to enhance emergency services and resources. 

Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt, and Pitkin County voters will decide whether to approve a Confluence Early Childhood Development Service District ballot question, issue 7A, a potential 0.25% sales tax that would apply to Pitkin and Garfield counties, as well as the southwest corner of Eagle County. The tax would help improve resources for early childcare in the region.

Property taxes

Voters in the Aspen Fire Protection District will decide whether or not to extend a property tax to maintain emergency response times, improve safety for first responders, replace outdated equipment, and more. Ballot issue 6B would be imposed at a rate of 0.24 mills, which for residents who own a home with an actual value of $1 million would cost $15 annually. 

Aspen School District residents will also decide whether to approve a property tax — a mill levy override increase, ballot issue 4A — to be imposed by the school district. The tax would help the district attract and retain high quality teachers, provide high quality classroom materials, support transportation, and more. Aspen School District voters who own a home with an actual value of $1 million would see their property taxes going toward the school district increase by $62 annually, from $352.25 to $414.25.

Residents of the Aspen Village Metropolitan District will decide whether to approve ballot issue 6D, a property tax that would require a $200,000 annual increase — paid collectively between homeowners in the district — to fund the district’s wastewater treatment project. The Nov. 4 ballot does not describe the individual amount homeowners could expect to pay from the increase. 

Snowmass homeowners could expect to see a property tax increase from $37 to $74 if they decide to approve ballot issue 2D, which would support the Aspen School District. The district expects this tax to raise up to $1.2 million annually.

Residents and homeowners of Twining Flats Road in Woody Creek will decide whether to approve a property tax, ballot issue 6C, to support the road’s maintenance. Residents who own a home with an actual value of $1 million could expect their property taxes in support of the road’s maintenance to increase from about $173 to about $361 annually.

Basalt voters will decide in ballot issue 7B whether or not to make a temporary property tax permanent to support the Basalt Regional Library. Basalt residents who own a home with an actual value of $1 million could expect the tax to cost them $67.50 annually, which would help the library retain staff, fund ongoing maintenance projects, finance library supplies and services, and more.

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.