Poudre Fire Authority urges Timnath residents to support ballot measure to restore local revenue

Poudre Fire Authority officials briefed the Timnath Town Council on a proposal to seek voter approval to restore the district’s ability to retain previously approved property-tax revenue, saying new state limits could erode funding for emergency services.

"We are entering a critical period where recent statewide legislation has created a significant need to discuss our revenue stability and the new 5.25% revenue cap," Patty Forsyth, finance division director for Poudre Fire Authority, told the council. She said the district provides emergency services across more than 230 square miles and serves over 213,000 people, with roughly 42,000 residents inside the district.

Forsyth and Sean McGaffin, PFA’s fire marshal, said operational costs — from fuel and academy training to apparatus replacement — are rising faster than allowed revenue growth. They described a range of capital pressures including replacement of fire engines (noting an example that a truck ordered in 2024 cost about $1.3 million compared with $819,000 in 2021) and station rebuilds such as one listed at approximately $3.3 million. The presenters said the district’s ad-hoc committee evaluated options including a sales tax, a mill-levy increase, and asking voters to remove the cap; they said returning the waiver would not raise taxes but would allow the district to retain revenue that voters previously approved in 2018.

Forsyth provided a multi‑year projection and said that, with the cap in place, the district could be unable to retain an estimated $4.6 million of revenue by 2031. McGaffin said those revenue losses would reduce capacity to build or staff future stations and could slow response times, which could in turn affect insurance rates for residents. "Our response times — and ultimately insurance rates — are influenced by our ability to maintain staffing and facilities," McGaffin said.

Council members asked about outreach and timing. Staff told the council the PFA board has not yet made a final decision and that public outreach and education were underway; if the board chooses to place a measure on the ballot, it would appear to voters in November and staff noted statutory restrictions on certain communications as the district approaches election-related deadlines.

Why it matters: The presentation framed the issue as funding continuity for emergency services rather than a new tax. If the board pursues a ballot question, the council could consider a supporting resolution; staff said local governments have a process to adopt resolutions supporting ballot matters subject to campaign-ethics rules.

Next steps: The Poudre Fire Authority will continue community outreach. The district board may decide whether to place a question before voters; the council discussed the ability to adopt a supporting resolution if asked.