The City of Glenwood Springs will host a series of “Fire Away Q&A” sessions through Oct. 17, giving city and rural fire district residents a chance to ask questions and learn more about two potential property tax increases on the upcoming Nov. 3 ballot.

The sessions begin Saturday at Bethel Plaza during the Noche Latina celebration and will continue at locations throughout Glenwood Springs.

Sessions are scheduled for:

• 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Bethel Plaza.
• 3:30-4:40 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, online. The webinar will stream live on the City of Glenwood Springs YouTube channel and will be recorded and posted online afterward. Spanish interpretation will be available.
• 4:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Glenwood Springs Community Center.
• 5-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Glenwood Springs Middle School.
• 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Glenwood Springs Library.

“Understanding the funding structure for the fire department can be a challenge to follow,” Bryana Starbuck, City of Glenwood Springs communications and engagement officer, said in a news release. “Our aim is to provide clear, accurate and transparent information and give residents an opportunity to ask questions directly about the fire department, challenges, funding, and how the city currently spends funds.”

The Glenwood Springs City Council unanimously placed the two ballot options on the ballot on Aug. 20 after denying a different proposal for more mills earlier in the month. 

Ballot measure 2B would apply to City of Glenwood Springs residents and raise an estimated $2.85 million annually beginning in January 2027. If approved, the city’s property tax would increase by 7.9 mills to a total rate of 16.503 mills, costing an estimated $493 per year for every $1 million in home value. 

Ballot measure 6A would apply to residents within the Glenwood Springs Rural Fire Protection District and raise an estimated $767,000 annually beginning in January 2027. If approved, the district’s property tax rate would increase by 5.9 mills to 18.239 mills, costing an estimated $369 per year for every $1 million of home value. Each measure has a 20-year sunset clause. 

The rural fire protection district extends west to Canyon Creek, east to Bair Ranch and south to Buffalo Valley. The commercial assessment rate for both measures is 3.7 times the residential rate. 

If voters approve both measures, they would generate approximately $3.62 million annually. The revenue would funnel directly into the city’s fire department and be used to increase employee compensation, hire additional firefighters and emergency medical personnel, and finance the purchase of property and construction of a replacement for the structurally deficient Station 71 in West Glenwood.

According to the city, existing city and rural district property taxes generate about $4.7 million annually, which does not cover the department’s operational and equipment costs. The city has supplemented that funding with about $1 million annually from its general fund and an additional $700,000 from tobacco and marijuana tax revenue.

The city says the general fund has operated at a deficit for the past two years in part because of the fire and emergency medical services subsidy.

“Staff intends to return to Council for consideration of a resolution during the budget process that would maintain a portion of the tobacco and marijuana transfer into fire/EMS for purposes of creating a reserve,” a City of Glenwood Springs news release reads. 

For more information about the upcoming ballot issues, visit Cogs.us.