Commission forms subcommittee to study fixed‑guideway tax and public‑safety building

The Grand County Commission debated Dec. 16 whether to adopt a newly available fixed‑guideway sales tax now or to defer the question to voters with a concrete plan. Commissioners who supported immediate adoption said the tax would place most of the burden on visitors and could generate a meaningful up‑front amount for a new public‑safety building; those who opposed it said voters should decide and that the commission should present a defined plan before adding a sales tax.

Marcus Keller, participating online, briefed the board on implementation timing and legislative uncertainty, saying some counties that have already enacted the tax have issued bonds and that there is a possibility the Legislature could modify or remove the authority in the future. Keller said even with adoption, revenues would lag by several months and might not materialize until 2027 depending on collection timing.

The sheriff described operational liabilities and urged the board to secure a funding path. Commissioners debated alternatives including voter approval next November and pointed to the county’s recent voter support for a similar tourism‑related tax.

After discussion Commissioner McCandless moved to create a subcommittee to outline a plan for a public‑safety facility and explore options for implementing the fixed‑guideway tax; the motion passed. A substitute motion to adopt the tax outright failed. Commissioners emphasized including city representation on the subcommittee and notifying partner agencies and the public prior to any ballot placement.

The subcommittee will report back with recommendations on scope, allocation (for example, how much would be dedicated to a public‑safety building vs. operations), and whether to place a question before voters.