Pitkin County Healthy Community Fund property tax renewal

THE HEALTHY COMMUNITY FUND WAS CREATED BY PITKIN COUNTY VOTERS IN 2002 AND RENEWED BY VOTERS IN 2006, 2011, AND 2018. THE FUND AUTHORIZATION WILL SUNSET IN 2027 UNLESS RENEWED BY VOTERS. A YES VOTE ON BALLOT QUESTION 1A REAUTHORIZES THE HEALTHY COMMUNITY FUND (HCF) FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. IT PROVIDES DEDICATED, STABLE FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, SENIOR SERVICES, SOCIAL PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PITKIN COUNTY . VOTE YES ON 1A TO SUPPORT THIS FUND. OVER 70 ORGANIZATIONS WERE FUNDED IN 2025, PROVIDING KEY RESOURCES TO FAMILY , FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND CO-WORKERS WHEN THEY FACE DIFFICULT TIMES. VOTE YES ON 1A TO ENSURE OUR COMMUNITY’S NETWORK OF CARE REMAINS STRONG. SINCE 2002, THE HCF HAS ABSORBED THE COST OF INCREASED FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL MANDATES FOR CRITICAL LIFE AND HEALTH/SAFETY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, DETOXIFICATION SERVICES, PUBLIC HEALTH CORE SERVICES, SENIOR SERVICES, AND INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE. ADDITIONAL FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING CUTS ARE ANTICIPATED IN THE YEARS AHEAD FOR PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP AND MEDICAID, AND VOTING YES ON 1A WILL GREATLY SHORE UP THE CAPACITY TO MEET THESE PROGRAM DEMANDS. THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE HEALTHY COMMUNITY FUND PROPERTY TAX WILL CHANGE THE CURRENT FIXED REVENUE PROPERTY TAX TO A 0.853 MILL LEVY , WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF APPROXIMATELY $85.30 PER $100,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE. THIS MILL LEVY IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE $5,266,081 IN 2028. THE REAUTHORIZATION ASKS VOTERS TO APPROVE A CHANGE IN THE FUND’S STRUCTURE, FROM A FIXED REVENUE PROPERTY TAX TO A MILL LEVY . THIS ALLOWS THE FUND TO GROW IN THE YEARS AHEAD WITH THE ANTICIPATED INCREASING NEED. VOTE YES ON 1A TO APPROVE THIS CHANGE. SINCE THE HCF WAS LAST RENEWED IN 2018, NONPROFIT AGENCIES SERVING PITKIN RESIDENTS AND WORKERS HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED NEED FOR EXPANDED SERVICES AS ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL FACTORS AFFECTING PERSONAL AND FAMILY WELL -BEING IN OUR VALLEY HAVE BECOME MORE COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING. DEMONSTRATING THIS GROWTH, BETWEEN 2020 AND 2025, THE HCF AGENCIES REPORTED OVER 55,000 PERSONAL CONTACTS FOR SERVICES. IT IS CRITICAL TO SUPPORT THESE ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS THAT HELP OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS THRIVE. VOTE YES ON 1A TO KEEP THEM STRONG. A VOLUNTEER CITIZEN GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE THOROUGHLY EVALUATES EACH ORGANIZATION APPLYING FOR HCF SUPPORT. THIS PROCESS PROVIDES STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC REPORTING OF EACH DOLLAR SPENT. PROFESSIONAL OVERSIGHT DURING THE YEAR ENSURES THAT THE PROGRAM REMAINS OUTCOMES-BASED AND RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. A YES VOTE ON 1A TO RENEW OUR HEALTHY COMMUNITY FUND CONTINUES TO DEFINE US AS A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE. FROM THE VERY YOUNG THROUGH OUR SENIOR POPULATION, IT BUILDS A STRONGER COMMUNITY AND A HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF PITKIN COUNTY . VOTE YES ON 1A.

THE HEALTHY COMMUNITY FUND MILL LEVY WILL BE FUNDED BY AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES. HOMEOWNERS WOULD PAY $85.30 IN TAXES PER $100,000 VALUATION ON THEIR PROPERTY . IF THE MEDIAN PRICE OF A HOME IN PITKIN COUNTY VALUED AT 3.5 MILLION DOLLARS, THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES TO BE PAID FOR THE HEALTHY COMMUNITY FUND MILL LEVY WOULD BE ALMOST $3000. SOMEONE WHOSE HOUSE IS VALUED AT $12,000,000 WOULD PAY OVER $10,000 DOLLARS. THAT MEANS THAT RENTS WOULD HAVE TO INCREASE TO COVER THE INCREASED PROPERTY TAXES.