Eagle County election results: Voters approve new taxes for fire protection, short-term rentals in Minturn while rejecting lodging tax in Gypsum | VailDaily.com

News News | Nov 6, 2024

Voters on Tuesday approved a new 0.79% sales tax for the Eagle River Fire Protection District in Avon, EagleVail, Edwards, Minturn and Red Cliff.

A two-thirds majority of residents approved the new sales tax, with more than 5,500 voters in favor, while fewer than 3,000 voters were opposed.

District Fire Chief Karl Bauer said increased expenses and decreased revenues, partially due to the formation of new tax increment financing districts in Eagle County, prompted the district to ask voters for the new revenue stream.

The new tax will help the district meet its personnel and capital costs, while also maintaining or improving emergency service coverage and response time, Bauer said.

Voters in Minturn voted in favor of more taxes on short-term rentals, according to returns published just before 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

An overwhelming majority of voters in Minturn are in favor of the idea — more than 70% or 362 voters, with only 131 people voting against the idea.

Minturn’s new short-term rental tax will take fees from the current level of 1.5% of the cost of the rental to 6.5% — a 5% increase.

Property owners in Minturn also voted in favor of creating a new downtown development authority in town, as well. Twenty-five people voted in favor of the idea, with 12 against.

Downtown development authorities allow towns to divert property taxes into the authority to be used for improvements on properties within the authority.

Minturn’s new downtown development authority will encompass the 100 block from N. Main Street south (excluding residential properties), the right of way down to the 500 block, with some properties included in between (in the 200 and 400 blocks), and all of north Minturn from the right of way to Dowd Junction.

Gypsum voters Tuesday were poised to reject a 3% lodging tax for two proposed hotels in town.

That tax was trailed by a tally of 1,665 votes against and 1,416 votes in favor. The tax would impose a 3% per night tax on lodging accommodations. The town levy would replace the current 2% tax on lodging in town, part of Eagle County’s lodging tax.

That tax was approved in 2022 by voters in Gypsum and unincorporated Eagle County. The proceeds from that tax are dedicated to marketing and early childhood efforts.

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Minturn voters approved an increase in taxes on short-term rentals Tuesday while also creating a downtown development district.