Longmont city council supports countywide wildfire mitigation, emergency services tax questions
22 September 2022
Published by: https://www.timescall.com
USA – During its study session Tuesday, the Longmont City Council threw its weight behind two ballot measures related to wildfire mitigation and emergency services that will go before Boulder County voters this November.
In August, the Boulder County Commissioners voted unanimously to put both sales and use tax questions on the Nov. 8 ballot along with a separate transportation sales tax extension.
If approved, County Issue 1A would impose a 0.10% sales and use tax to fund wildfire mitigation efforts such as strategic forest and grassland management.
The tax is anticipated to raise $11 million annually and would “reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, protect water supplies and foster resilient ecosystems,” according to the ballot measure’s specific language.
The wildfire mitigation tax question will appear on the November ballot less than a year after the Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,080 homes and killed two people in Boulder County.
“I would guess that there’s nobody in the room that would argue that we — based on our climate crisis — are no longer in a seasonal fire time,” Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin said to the Council on Tuesday. “It’s year-round.”
In addition to the wildfire mitigation tax, the county has proposed a 0.10% emergency services sales and use tax, which would decline to 0.05% after 2027.
A 0.10% sales tax is equivalent to one penny on every 10 dollars.
County Issue 1B would help fund new emergency facilities and equipment as well as the operational costs of entirely volunteer search-and-rescue organizations in mountainous and rural areas.
Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, which was founded in 1947 and does not charge a fee for its search-and-rescue services, has continued to see its costs and calls for service increase.
During Tuesday’s presentation, one wireless radio was said to cost the nonprofit search-and-rescue organization $2,000.
With 70 volunteers, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group pays roughly $140,000 just for radios alone.
Loachamin stressed how the passage of Issue 1B was critical to keeping critical search-and-rescue services free for those in need.
“If I personally was out on a trail and was hurt, I would think twice before I called for help if I thought for a moment that there was going to be a high-ticket price — and I think all of us probably would,” Loachamin said. “That is why volunteers are adamant about not charging for their service because they understand it puts that person who’s been hurt at risk.”
The Council supported both ballot issues unanimously and directed staff to bring back a resolution of support at a future meeting.
