City of Evans 2025 Ballot Measure Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of a survey of 379 voters in Evans, Colorado. The interviews were conducted from March 4th to 23rd, 2025.

The City of Evans conducted a ballot measure survey to gauge voter sentiment on a potential property tax increase. Initially, voters showed strong approval of the city’s overall job performance, with the majority approving of the services and programs provided to residents. However, when it came to fiscal responsibility, support was more moderate, with slightly more than half agreeing that the city spends taxpayer money wisely.

When asked about their top community concerns, residents overwhelmingly pointed to roads and infrastructure issues, including potholes, poor road conditions, and inadequate maintenance. High water and utility costs emerged as another major complaint, with many residents frustrated by rising bills and non-potable water charges. Crime, public safety, code enforcement, and general affordability concerns were also frequently mentioned, along with the lack of a cohesive downtown identity and limited economic development opportunities.

The initial ballot measure proposal, which would have increased property taxes by nearly 12 mills to generate approximately $3 million annually for public safety, infrastructure, community beautification, and economic development, faced significant opposition. Nearly half of respondents indicated they would vote against the measure, while only about one-third supported it, with the remainder undecided.

However, after being presented with extensive context about the city’s financial situation, voter sentiment shifted considerably. Respondents learned that Evans has the lowest mill levy in Weld County, that the average homeowner pays only about $75 annually in city property taxes, and that less than 4% of total property taxes go to the city. They also learned about the 2012 fire district formation that reduced the city’s mill levy from over 13 mills to just 3.5 mills, and that the city has been operating on this reduced revenue for over a decade.

The educational messaging proved highly effective across multiple frames. Information about the city’s low property tax collections, comparisons to other municipalities, and explanations of how current tax dollars are allocated all increased support for the measure. The most persuasive messages focused on the city having the lowest mill levy in Weld County, the comparison of monthly costs to everyday purchases, and the direct connection between mill increases and specific service improvements like hiring additional police officers or addressing road maintenance needs.

After hearing all the contextual information, support for the ballot measure increased significantly, with nearly half of voters indicating they would approve it and opposition dropping to just under 40%. Supporters cited the need to invest in essential services and infrastructure, enhance quality of life, and support future growth, while acknowledging that adequate funding is necessary for effective city operations.

Opponents expressed concerns about financial hardship and rising costs, particularly among seniors on fixed incomes, distrust of government spending and transparency, and a preference for attracting new businesses to increase sales tax revenue rather than raising property taxes. Many wanted clearer justification for the size of the proposed increase and more detailed plans showing exactly how the additional revenue would be spent before they would support the measure.