What valley residents can expect as Pitkin County ballot issues see unofficial approval

With nearly 6,000 of Pitkin County’s approximately 14,000 registered voters turning out for the Nov. 4 coordinated election, about a 43% turnout, all ballot issues proposed to upvalley residents have so far been approved, according to Pitkin County’s unofficial results. 

Though still pending official results, the Aspen School District, Aspen Fire Protection District, Lumberyard affordable housing project, Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, Basalt Regional Library, and other districts are set to take home funding victories. Some of the funding, however, would come as a tax increase for residents.

What local districts can expect in funding changes 

ASD

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The Aspen School District would stand to see a $10.25 million annual increase in funding given that Ballot Issue 4A, the mill levy override increase, Ballot Issue 2A, an Aspen sales tax increase, and Ballot Issue 2D, a Snowmass Village property tax, all unofficially passed. 

In itemized form, district officials expect the mill levy override increase ballot issue, which would allow ASD to levy more property taxes than the per-pupil cap set by the state, to generate $5 million for the district per year. Aspen expects the Aspen sales tax increase in support of ASD, which would double the existing education-oriented sales tax from 0.3% to 0.6%, to generate an additional $4.75 million in 2026. 

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With Snowmass’ increased property tax issue unofficially approved, the town expects to generate an additional $500,000 annually for the Snowmass Village Public Education Fund — which is put towards the school district. 

Aspen School District is also set to see funding from a $95 million general obligation bond, Ballot Issue 4B.

Aspen Fire

The Aspen Fire Protection District can expect to see just over $7 million in additional annual funding beginning next year, given that Ballot Issue 6A, a sales tax, and Ballot Issue 6B, a property tax, have unofficially passed. 

The district asked voters to approve a 0.5% sales tax (6A) to support wildfire mitigation, fire-related technology, and more, which they anticipated would generate $5.98 million in the first year of implementation. 

They also asked voters to make permanent an existing property tax of 0.24 mills, Ballot Issue 6B, which generated $1.075 million in 2025. The tax would help the district replace fire engines, address infrastructure needs, and more. 

Lumberyard

The city asked voters to allow it to go into $70 million of debt — Ballot Issue 2B — to help fund the Lumberyard affordable housing project, which it said would not result in a tax increase for residents. Aspen expects the 277-unit project to cost $250 million in total and hopes to finish construction by the end of 2030.

On the ballot, the city said it would pay for the debt “from the city’s affordable housing fund or any other available revenue of the city, without any increase in taxes.”

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport

With the unofficial approval of Ballot Issue 1A, which would allow Pitkin County to go into $340 million of debt to pay for the renovation and expansion of the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, residents will not see a tax increase. 

The county said it would pay for the debt with its enterprise fund, “without imposing any new tax or increasing any tax rate,” according to the ballot. 

Basalt 

With the unofficial approval of Ballot Issue 7B, the Basalt Regional Library District can expect to see the retention of a property tax that generates the better part of $1 million per year — without increasing district taxes for residents. The issue would make permanent an existing 1.08 mill property tax, which was set to expire. The levy generated $782,000 in calendar year 2025, according to the ballot. The funding would go to library maintenance, staff retention, community access to books and internet, and more

Basalt would also see an increase of “not more than $300,000” in 2026 revenue with the unofficial approval of Ballot Issue 3A, increasing Basalt’s lodging tax. The issue would increase the town’s lodging tax from 4% to 6%, with funds directed towards Basalt’s workforce housing.

Twining Flats Road

Residents of Twining Flats Road in Woody Creek supported Ballot Issue 6C, which will increase their property taxes to fund the road’s maintenance. The Twining Flats Road Improvement District expects the increase to generate an additional $29,210 for road maintenance in the first year of implementation. 

Aspen Village Metropolitan District 

The Aspen Village Metropolitan District can expect to see an additional $200,000 in annual property tax revenue from district residents to help fund improvements to Aspen’s wastewater treatment plant, Ballot Issue 6D. The issue also allows them to go into $5 million of additional debt to pay for the project. 

Gender Neutral Signs

Aspen asked voters if it could amend the city of Aspen Charter to replace gender specific terms with gender neutral terms, Ballot Issue, which has unofficially been approved. 

What taxpayers can expect

With the unofficial approval of all the issues on the Pitkin County ballot, residents can expect their taxes to increase.

Aspen and Pitkin County residents in the Aspen School District

Aspen and Pitkin County residents in the Aspen School District who own a property with an actual value of $1 million can expect their property taxes to increase by $127 annually from the education-related ballot issues. The mill levy override increase, Ballot Issue 4A, will cost residents an estimated $62, while the $95 million bond, Ballot Issue 4B, will cost residents an estimated $65 — adding to the $127.

Residents who own homes with an actual value of $1 million who live in the Aspen Fire Protection District can also expect to pay an annual increase of $15 from Ballot Issue 6B, which increased property taxes to support the fire district. Combined with the $127 from education-related property taxes, they would see a total increase of $142.

Aspen sales tax

In addition to the 9.3% sales tax currently imposed on most Aspen goods, Aspen residents can expect an additional 1.05% in sales tax. 

The additional tax constitutes the 0.3% sales tax increase proposed by the city of Aspen to support the Aspen School District, Ballot Issue 2A, the 0.5% Aspen Fire Protection District sales tax, Ballot Issue 6A, and the 0.25% Confluence Early Childhood Development Service District sales tax, Ballot Issue 7A, which would provide funding to child support in Pitkin and Garfield counties, as well as the southwest corner of Eagle County. 

Snowmass

Snowmass residents in the Aspen School District who own a property with an actual value of $1 million can expect to see their property taxes increase by $164 annually, with the unofficial approval of the education-related ballot issues. On top of the $127 expected increase from the mill levy override and the bond, they can also expect a $37 annual addition in taxes given voter support to increase the Snowmass Village Public Education Fund property tax, Ballot Issue 2D — totaling the $164.

Snowmass residents could also expect to pay for the 0.25% Confluence Early Childhood Development Service District sales tax.

Basalt

Basalt property owners can expect to see their Basalt Public Library-related property taxes stay at the same rate under Ballot Issue 7B. The issue, which is set to make an existing tax permanent, would continue to cost residents who own a home worth $1 million in actual value approximately $62 annually. 

Those who visit Basalt seeking lodging can expect to pay for the 2% lodging tax increase, prompting a total lodging tax payment of 6%, given the unofficial approval of Ballot Issue 3A.

Basalt residents can also expect to pay for the 0.25% childcare sales tax on most goods.

Twining Flats Road

Residents of Twining Flats Road in Woody Creek who own a home with an actual value of $1 million can expect their property taxes to increase from $173 to $361 annually under Ballot Issue 6C. They can also expect to pay for the 0.25% childcare sales tax. 

Lumberyard affordable housing project, Aspen/Pitkin County Airport

The Lumberyard affordable housing project, Ballot issue 2B, and Pitkin County’s Airport Enterprise Fund Bonds question, Ballot Issue 1A, are both debt questions and will not increase taxes for residents.  

Aspen Village Metropolitan District 

Pitkinvotes.com did not release results about the Aspen Village Metropolitan District question, Ballot Issue 6D. The ballot does not describe how the $200,000 annual property tax increase proposed in the ballot issue would impact individual homeowners. 

Gender Neutral Signs

The city would not obtain any funding given the unofficial approval of ballot issue 2C and residents would not see any increase in their taxes.

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