The city of Durango is accepting pro and con statements regarding the Durango Fire Protection District’s November ballot item to raise property taxes within the city of Durango for a new fire station in Three Springs.
In order to be eligible to submit statements for or against the ballot measure, one must be a registered elector within the city. In submitting a statement, one must include his or her name and address and a signature, according to a public notice published in the Aug. 24 edition of The Durango Herald.
The notice will also be published in the Sunday and Sept. 7 and 14 editions of the newspaper.
Residents have until noon Sept. 19 to submit their statements. Statements are limited to 500 words and statements exceeding that word limit will be summarized by the city clerk’s office, the notice said.
Statements can be submitted at ballot@durangoco.gov or by mail or in-person at Durango City Hall at 949 East Second Ave. in Durango.
The ballot measure proposes a property tax increase of 4.45 mills and not more than $2.8 million annually for fire protection and emergency services.
La Plata County Assessor Carrie Woodson said a 4.45 mill levy on a $700,000 home in Durango with an assessed value of $43,750 results in $194.68 in property taxes.
Durango Fire Chief Randy Black said the need for a new fire station in Three Springs is the impetus for the ballot measure. Additional property tax revenue would be a more reliable source of income than sales tax revenues, and would generate more funding for the development of a new station, he said.
“That station will fairly evenly support the county and the city residents,” he said. “While it is in the city limits in Three Springs, literally across the street and in the general area out there is all county property.”
He said the fire station would provide service to the U.S. highway 160 and 550 corridors, Florida Mesa, State Highway 172 and Durango-La Plata County Airport.
The city of Durango is not part of DFPD’s district and instead has an agreement for service that expires in 2028. Black said the proposed property tax increase in the ballot measure balances funding contributed from the city and the district.
At a City Council meeting last week, José Madrigal, city manager, said when the city-fire district agreement expires in 2028 and the city considers joining the fire district, the additional property tax revenues paid by the city to the fire district would place the city on the same level of contributions as those within the district, making the city’s transition into the district smoother should it go that route.
He added that the potential funding in question would not be city revenue, but property taxes collected by the city and paid directly to the fire district for fire and emergency services.
Durango voters have approved increases to property taxes for fire services twice over the last 20 years, according to election records from the La Plata County Clerk & Recorder’s Office.
In 2013, voters approved a property tax increase not to exceed 5.7 mills; in 2017, voters approved an increase by 2.5 mills.
In 2006 and 2011, voters rejected proposed property tax increases to fund fire and emergency services of 6.3 and 6.6 mills, respectively.
cburney@durangoherald.com
