Montezuma County commissioners float 1% sales tax to fund roads and sheriff, agree to survey parameters
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Summary
Commissioners agreed to propose a 1% county sales tax (with previously discussed exemptions) and asked staff to model revenue and survey community support; they deferred the final decision on how to split proceeds between Road & Bridge and the sheriff to a future meeting.
Montezuma County commissioners returned to a discussion of a proposed county sales tax on Tuesday, directing staff to proceed with public‑opinion surveying and financial modeling for a 1% tax while delaying a final decision on how to allocate the revenue.
At the workshop, Chair (speaker 1) said the working assumption remained a 1% county sales tax, with proceeds split between Road & Bridge and the sheriff’s office. Treasurer/assessor staff member Trevor (speaker 10) told commissioners that, based on the county’s most recent assessment, a 1% rate could generate a little over $8 million annually. Chair 1 said the commission would need to set the exact split and exemptions before the survey could be finalized.
Why it matters: Commissioners framed the tax as a way to broaden the revenue base beyond property taxes, noting it would ease pressure on property owners and provide dedicated funding for critical infrastructure and public safety. Commissioners discussed whether to return the county LEA mill levy (1.45%) to property owners if the sales tax passes and considered a temporary approach before committing to a permanent reallocation.
During the discussion, commissioners emphasized three practical decisions that must be set before public outreach: the tax rate (the group converged on 1%), the set of exemptions (agricultural machinery and the roughly 14 exemptions previously discussed were left in place for now), and the percentage split between Road & Bridge and the sheriff’s office. Commissioner 3 urged caution about a strict 50/50 split, noting the sheriff’s budget is large and uses different revenue sources; Chair 1 said the commission would gather two years of real revenue data before any commitment to refund or reallocate existing mill levies.
Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to provide clearer budget breakdowns, run scenarios for differing splits (50/50, 60/40, and alternatives), and provide the percentage detail Magellan Strategies or other polling contractors will need to test public support. The board scheduled continued discussion at next week’s meeting with the goal of finalizing survey language and the proposed allocation.
The commission did not adopt ordinance language or place the tax on a ballot at the workshop; the item was left for further analysis and a vote at a subsequent meeting.
