Bluff signals $50,000 property-tax increase to support emergency services in tentative FY2027 budget

The Bluff Town Council on May 5 adopted a tentative FY2027 budget that includes the town’s stated intention to pursue a $50,000 property-tax increase to fund Fire and EMS support, Mayor Josh Ewing said.

The proposal, presented as required by state law, would raise Bluff’s certified tax rate from about 0.000545 to an estimated 0.001137 and increase the town’s annual property-tax collections by roughly $50,000 (from about $33,186 to $83,186). Mayor Ewing read the required impact statement, noting the town would use the additional revenue to hire a part‑time Emergency Services Administrative Manager and to support routine maintenance, equipment and other emergency-services expenses. “The Town of Bluff is considering levying a property tax rate that exceeds the certified tax rate,” Ewing said while reading the statutory notice to the public.

Why it matters: town officials and presenters framed the increase as a way to stabilize locally provided emergency services at a time when countywide EMS and volunteer resources are under financial strain. Town staff estimated the proposal’s household impact at illustrative market values: roughly $105.61 annually for a $233,800 home and about $225.85 for a $500,000 home; business impacts were estimated separately. Nelson and Ewing noted these are estimates until the state issues final calculations.

Public comment at the meeting included concerns about whether $50,000 is sufficient to sustain local emergency services. Gary Lichtenstein, who identified himself as having served as Bluff Fire Department assistant chief, told the council he has configured a cost estimate of about $230,000 to run a sustainably staffed fire department and asked what outcomes the tax increase would guarantee to residents and businesses.

Councilmembers discussed outreach and next steps. The council set a public hearing on the FY2027 budget for June 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., and scheduled an open-house discussion on the proposed tax increase for May 19 to allow residents to ask questions and review breakout topics such as Fire/EMS and BRICC projects. Ewing said the town is coordinating an August public hearing on any property-tax increase with San Juan County.

The council approved Resolution #103 adopting the tentative FY2027 budget by roll call vote: Hornsby — aye; Wade — aye; Ewing — aye; Davila — aye; Haws — aye. The resolution sets the procedural framework for the town to continue outreach and refine the proposed amounts ahead of final budget adoption later this year.

What’s next: the town will hold the May 19 open house followed by the June 2 budget hearing; any final decision to adopt a tax rate that exceeds the certified rate would occur in a later, duly noticed vote after public hearings and updated state calculations.