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Council raises equity questions as Aspen school leaders propose sales tax, property tax and countywide alternatives
Summary
Councilors and district officials debated the distributional effects of increasing a local sales tax, noting out‑of‑district enrollments and tax-exempt commercial areas could shift more of the burden onto Aspen residents; countywide or special-district approaches were discussed as alternatives.
Council members pressed the Aspen School District on who would bear the burden of any tax increase and whether the current distribution of students and taxpayers is equitable. Several councilors highlighted that about 20% of students live outside the district and that some commercial areas (airport business center and ski area properties) do not currently contribute sales tax to Aspens school fund.
District staff and board representatives said they had considered four options and were open to alternative approaches that broaden the funding base. They noted Snowmass Village has a fixed-dollar levy that has generated about $510,000 annually and that a countywide property-tax or special taxing district could reduce Aspens per-resident ask. "We take any student that comes to us and really don't ask whether their tax base is in Moody Creek or the town of Aspen," a district representative said while explaining out-of-district enrollment rules.
Councilors suggested more time to negotiate with Pitkin County and local partners before placing a large sales-tax increase on an off-year ballot, and several favored a more incremental approach (renew 0.3% or modestly increase) to avoid a failed question and the long wait that follows a defeat.
