Crested Butte excise tax on second homes and vacant land

I support this ballot question because it is a reasonable way to help address the Town’s financial needs and maintain the infrastructure our community relies on. Owners of vacant second homes are part of the Crested Butte community, and their properties rely on the Town’s infrastructure. A modest annual excise tax provides a reasonable way for owners of these properties to help support those costs. For a home worth around $1 million, the proposed $2,400 annual tax is roughly 0.24% of the home’s value. I also believe the tax may provide some modest incentive against homes remaining vacant for much of the year . In a community where housing is limited, keeping more homes occupied and contributing to the community is a worthwhile secondary benefit. The revenue would be dedicated to the Town’s Capital Fund, providing resources to maintain and improve the infrastructure that makes Crested Butte a functioning community.

Vote No on 2B — Let’s Fix the Budget Before We Raise Taxes. Crested Butte works because we are one community. Full-time and part-time residents alike contribute to the town we all care about. We should approach our financial challenges as one community, too. 2B is not a budget fix. Instead of first addressing the spending growth that got us here, it simply adds more revenue. Town spending is up 89%, from approximately $15.2 million in 2019 to $28.7 million in 2026, while the year-round population has remained essentially flat. Yet the Town describes its finances as strong, with robust reserves and no fiscal emergency. There is a better way. A citizens budget advisory task force has been formed to understand Town spending, identify actual financial needs, and examine savings and alternatives. Let that task force develop a sound financial plan before approving a new tax. If additional revenue is necessary, develop a solution that is effective, legally sound, and part of a comprehensive financial plan. Too much about 2B remains uncertain. 2B taxes properties that are not a primary residence and vacant residential lots, but important specifics and potential exemptions —including those for long -term second homeowners and homes occupied by long-term renters—are not on the ballot. Without those details, voters do not have a clear picture of who will ultimately pay the tax or how much revenue it will actually produce. The legal and financial risks are uncertain, too. This type of tax has never been implemented in Colorado, and similar efforts elsewhere have faced successful legal challenges. Crested Butte could face costly litigation over a tax that may not survive. We don't know what it will cost to administer and defend, or whether it will provide a lasting solution to the Town's financial needs. With so much still uncertain —who will pay, how much 2B will raise, whether it will survive legal challenges, and what consequences it may have for our community—2B is the wrong approach. Tax policy should not be used to create permanent divisions between neighbors based on where they call their primary home. Full -time and part-time homeowners share the same property tax obligations, regardless of how much time they spend in Crested Butte. And when a tax falls primarily on homeowners who cannot vote on the measure themselves, voters should be especially careful about imposing that burden on their neighbors. One community. A better way. Vote No on 2B.