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San Juan County staff draft 2027 levy‑lid‑lift resolution, council asks for clearer ballot language
Summary
San Juan County staff presented a draft resolution to place a 2027 property tax levy‑lid lift before voters that would set a levy of $0.85 per $1,000 assessed value and use that amount to compute future levy limits; council members asked staff to emphasize ‘critical services,’ historical regularity of past lifts, and include public‑safety and environmental stewardship in the background.
San Juan County leaders reviewed a draft resolution on Feb. 3 that would ask voters to authorize a levy lid lift for collection in 2027 at a rate of $0.85 per $1,000 of assessed value and to use the 2027 levy amount to compute future levy limits.
County Manager Jessica Hudson told the council the draft draws from similar resolutions adopted in 2009, 2014 and 2019 and, if approved by voters, could generate approximately $4.5 million in additional revenue in 2027. Hudson said the resolution’s background and a separate 75‑word ballot statement will inform voters about what the funds would support and that the county prosecutor will finalize the ballot language.
Council members pressed staff to refine how the resolution frames the uses of revenue. Council member Paulson said the background should note the regularity with which the county has sought levy‑lid relief and include an explicit reference to public health because that sector is facing sharp cuts at the state and federal levels. Council member Fuller recommended replacing the phrase “specific needs” with “critical services” and asked that environmental stewardship be named among services supported by current expense funds. Several council members emphasized they do not want to overpromise recurring support; staff said the draft will clarify that some uses reflect one‑time or discretionary funding choices.
Hudson also stressed that only the brief ballot statement and the pro/con pamphlet will be seen by most voters, and she said the resolution serves as a historical and background document that can help shape the explanatory materials legislators and the prosecutor prepare.
Staff said they will return on Feb. 10 with a revised draft, track changes and a clean version of the proposed resolution for council approval and with recommended language for the short ballot statement.
