Gunnison County 2026 Ballot Measure Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of a text-to-web survey of 533 Gunnison County voters. The interviews were conducted from February 24th – March 13th, 2026.

Gunnison County voters gave the county positive marks for road and bridge work at the start of the survey. Sixty-four percent approved of the job the Gunnison County Public Works Department is doing to perform road and bridge maintenance and improvements, and 29% disapproved. Voters split on whether the county has the financial resources needed to adequately maintain, repair, and improve roads and bridges in unincorporated Gunnison County, with 46% saying yes and 45% saying no.

Opinion was also close on the county’s use of taxpayer money. Forty-seven percent agreed that Gunnison County is fiscally responsible and spends taxpayer money wisely, while 42% disagreed and 11% offered no opinion. Within those totals, 12% strongly agreed and 19% strongly disagreed.

When asked to rate the importance of different areas of road maintenance on a 1-to-10 scale, voters placed the highest priority on snow removal and snow plowing, which 78% rated 8 to 10, and 47% rated a 10. Patching and pothole repair followed, with 76% rating it 8 to 10. Gravel road work and asphalt overlays each drew a 53% to 58% share in the 8-to-10 range, while paved road reconstruction (47%) and gravel road reconstruction (44%) ranked lower.

The survey then presented ballot language for a 0.50% countywide sales tax dedicated to roads and bridges, estimated to raise $3,304,092 in its first fiscal year and excluding groceries and utilities. On the initial ballot test, 50% of voters said they would vote yes and approve the measure, 44% said they would vote no and reject it, and 6% were undecided. Definite yes votes stood at 18% and definite no votes at 23%.

Voters then read a series of informational statements and reported whether each made them more likely to approve or reject the measure. The statement that a sales tax draws revenue from tourists, visitors, and those passing through moved the most voters, with 68% more likely to approve and 15% more likely to reject. Other statements that increased approval included the county’s ability to compete for state and federal grants (63% more likely to approve), the pavement conditions assessment that rated 5 bridges in poor condition and 21 in fair condition (62%), and the point that the tax would fund $38 million in deferred maintenance over twenty years (60%).

Additional statements produced smaller shifts. Explaining that county governments in Colorado cannot fund road maintenance through property taxes left 59% more likely to approve and 20% more likely to reject. Noting the county’s AA credit rating and that it has not asked voters for a tax increase since 1978 left 58% more likely to approve. The list of completed county projects drew the weakest response, with 48% more likely to approve and 28% more likely to reject.

After reading the information, voters saw the ballot language a second time. Support rose to 56% voting yes and approving, with 38% voting no and rejecting and 6% undecided. Definite yes votes increased to 24%. Among voters who said they would vote yes, the most common reasons were the poor condition of roads and bridges, safety concerns for drivers, cyclists, and emergency services, the view that a sales tax is a fair way to share costs with tourists, and the idea that investing now saves money later. Voters who said they would vote no most often cited taxes and the cost of living already being too high, distrust of county spending, a preference for a different funding mechanism, and a desire for more transparency.

The survey closed by testing a higher rate. When asked whether they would support a 0.75% sales tax increase that could complete the needed improvements 5 years faster, 43% supported it and 53% opposed it, with 4% unsure or offering no opinion. Strong opposition stood at 33%, compared with 15% strong support.