Clear Creek County outlines $7 million structural shortfall and weighs taxes to sustain fire, EMS and services

At a Clear Creek County town hall, county commissioners and staff told residents the county faces a long-term structural shortfall of roughly $7 million and a near-term budget deficit of about $1.3 million, and outlined options that could include new taxes, fee changes and service adjustments.

Commissioner Rebecca Lloyd opened the meeting by summarizing the county’s situation: “the challenges is facing the loss of federal funding and declining tax revenue, and the increased cost of everything, which are hitting our pocketbooks,” she said. County leaders described steps already taken to reduce costs and identified further options for the public to consider.

Why it matters: Clear Creek County officials said the reductions in taxable production at the local Henderson mine and other long-run trends have cut property-tax receipts substantially since 2015. At the same time the county faces rising operating and capital costs — from emergency vehicles to road and facility maintenance — and program funding that depends on competitive state or federal grants. Officials warned that without a mix of economic development, service reductions or new revenue the county could need to cut or scale back core services including public safety, public-health hours and some administrative functions.

Most important details

- Revenue trends and reserves: Officials said property-tax revenue that was around $27 million in 2015 has fallen to about $12 million in 2025 because the Henderson mine is producing less. The board estimates a cumulative revenue loss…