Commissioners direct survey and ballot‑language work as they weigh emergency‑services mill levy

Clear Creek County commissioners spent part of the June 17 meeting on a work session about financing public safety, directing staff to draft ballot language and a public survey as a first step in exploring a property‑tax measure within the Emergency Services General Improvement District (ESGID).

What the board discussed Staff and the fire authority presented options to raise property tax mills inside the ESGID to help fund the county fire authority and, possibly, Clear Creek EMS. Commissioners discussed whether to include EMS in the same ballot measure and how to coordinate with municipalities that do not sit entirely inside the ESGID boundary. Staff noted EMS faces an annual operating deficit and that increasing dedicated revenue could reduce transfers from the county general fund.

Staff asked for direction on: drafting ballot language describing the public‑safety purpose for the levy; conducting a countywide survey that includes municipal residents; and producing clearer materials for upcoming town halls. The board agreed to ask staff and consultants to prepare draft language and a survey to be released later in July so results can inform an August/September decision on whether to proceed to a ballot measure.

Why it matters: Fire and EMS funding shortfalls affect response capacity. A voter‑approved mill levy would concentrate funding in the ESGID; a countywide sales‑tax alternative was discussed but commissioners noted sales tax is politically sensitive in towns that already have high local sales rates.

Key fiscal points (staff estimates presented in meeting) - Staff reported Clear Creek EMS was operating with an annual deficit and a limited fund balance; staff cited a $513,000 annual deficit with a roughly $200,000 fund balance. - Staff said that each mill on the unincorporated tax base would produce on the order of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and that the board would receive formal estimates as part of the survey and ballot‑language preparation.

Next steps and timeline - Staff was directed to draft ballot language for an ESGID property‑tax (mill levy) question and to prepare a countywide survey that includes municipal jurisdictions for comparison. - Commissioners signaled a preference to pursue a property‑tax increase for the ESGID in the near term and to consider a countywide sales‑tax option in a later cycle if municipal partners and public opinion warrant it. - The board said it would aim to decide on whether to place the measure on a ballot in late August or September, and that staff should return with a survey report and proposed language.

Ending: Commissioners asked for clear, comparative materials for the public town halls and to coordinate closely with municipal leaders before finalizing any ballot questions or campaign outreach.