CIMARRON HILLS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BALLOT ISSUE 6A

Cimarron Hills Fire Protection District Board of Directors pass Resolution 2024-006 Calling for a November 5, 2024 Special Election with consideration of a 1%  Sales Tax to stabilize & diversify revenue and plan for future personnel and capital needs.

Why is the Cimarron Hills Fire Protection District seeking a sales tax?

The Cimarron Hills Fire Protection District is a political subdivision (“special district”) of the State of Colorado, existing to provide essential Fire and EMS services to the citizens and visitors of Cimarron Hills.  As a special district, funding for these services has (historically) been solely received from property taxes.  With the exception of ambulance transport, visitors and those passing through the district in need of emergency assistance receive these services for free.

For the last few years, leaders at the State level, in an effort to provide tax relief to Colorado residents, have sought to reduce property taxes statewide year after year, seemingly unaware of the enormous burden being placed on special districts who depend on this sole source of funding.  It should be noted that the State does not receive their funding from property tax.  Theirs is received from sales tax, income tax, fees, and funding from the federal government. 

The CHFPD continues to face rising operating and maintenance costs, striving to maintain competitive personnel salaries, benefits and essential training, while also addressing aging equipment, apparatus, and facilities.  With an increasing resident and visitor population within the district and on the roadways passing through the district, back-to-back call volume is increasing.  Forced to do more with less, the budget has been stretched in the face of continued revenue (property tax) reductions. 

On May 22, Colorado Senate Bill SB24-194 was passed, authorizing special districts that provide emergency services to levy a sales tax to generate additional revenue for district services.  While this isn’t much help to rural departments, the CHFPD Board sees this as an opportunity to diversify and stabilize revenue, and to more equitably shift the burden of district funding off property owners to EVERYONE who conducts business within the District.

It is estimated that a 1% sales tax on purchases made within the district could bring in $2.4 million dollars annually, allowing the CHFPD to meet immediate needs and remain on track for long-term strategic planning, including adding additional staff, procurement of necessary lifesaving apparatus, replacing aging equipment, and funding facility needs & improvements.