Telluride Fire Protection District 2022 Ballot Measure Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of a live telephone and online survey of 361 registered voters in the Telluride Fire Protection District in San Miguel County, Colorado.

The Telluride Fire Protection District conducted a survey to gauge support for a proposed property tax ballot measure. Residents demonstrated strong familiarity with the fire district and its services, with 81 percent reporting they were very or somewhat familiar with the district. When asked to identify priority services, 71 percent selected EMS response and medical and trauma-related 911 calls, 53 percent chose fire suppression, and 46 percent selected wildfire suppression as areas the district should address most.

Residents expressed overwhelmingly positive views of the fire district’s performance and fiscal management. Ninety percent approved of the job the district did to provide fire protection, fire suppression, and emergency medical care, with 69 percent strongly approving. Additionally, 64 percent agreed that the district was fiscally responsible and spent taxpayer money wisely. Seventy percent of respondents believed fire risk in their area had increased in the past couple of years, with 40 percent saying it had definitely increased.

Initial support for the proposed ballot measure was strong. When first presented with information about a 4.0 mill property tax increase to raise $3.65 million in additional funding for building remodel and maintenance, personnel support, and equipment updates, 64 percent said they would vote yes and approve it, while 31 percent said they would vote no and reject it. The proposed increase would raise the district’s mill levy from 4.315 to 8.315 mills, costing a homeowner approximately $305.56 annually or $25.46 per month for a home valued at $500,000.

After receiving detailed information about the reasons for the ballot measure, support increased slightly. The informed ballot test showed 66 percent would vote yes and 27 percent would vote no, representing a two-point increase in yes votes and a four-point decrease in no votes from the uninformed ballot test. Among undecided voters who were asked which way they leaned, 29 percent leaned toward voting yes while 11 percent leaned toward voting no.

The most persuasive piece of information related to deferred maintenance and equipment needs. When told the district had deferred maintenance and replacements to emergency equipment and fire trucks due to cost increases and that the ballot measure would allow them to update this equipment, 82 percent said they were more likely to approve while only 14 percent said they were more likely to reject. Information about the district’s past fiscal responsibility, specifically that they had saved approximately $400,000 by reissuing a general obligation bond at a lower interest rate, also resonated strongly with 70 percent saying they were more likely to approve.

The proposed improvements included remodeling all four existing fire district stations and potentially building two additional stations. The measure would also allow the district to hire additional staff including full-time firefighters, wildfire firefighters, a training officer, and a potential Deputy Chief. The current 4.315 mill rate generated approximately $3.9 million for the district, and the proposed 4.0 mill increase would generate an additional $3.65 million in funding.

Voter enthusiasm for participating in a potential ballot measure election was high. When asked how likely they were to vote in a Telluride Fire Protection District ballot measure election regarding fire safety needs in May of 2023, 65 percent said they were extremely likely to vote and an additional 27 percent said they were very likely to vote, meaning 92 percent of respondents expressed a high likelihood of participation. Only one percent said they were unlikely to vote.