ESTES VALLEY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MILL LEVY PROPERTY TAX FACT SHEET

Fact #1: Revenues for improved emergency response
▪ In the last 10 years the full-time population of the Valley has increased 20% (now
12,000) and visitation has increased by over 50% (now over 4.5 million).
▪ As a result, call volume has increased 45% since becoming a fire district in 2010.
▪ Fire District response times average 7-10 minutes for our first engine to leave the station
▪ The Fire District currently operates below National Fire Protection Association staffing
and response standards due to lack of in station staffing
▪ This funding would support new full-time positions and further enhance our volunteer
model, continuing the tradition from 1907.

Fact #2: Revenues for increased Community Risk Reduction
▪ Our community is home to more than 1,000 unique businesses and 7,500 homes
▪ Our updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) identifies a number of
prevention programs that could be implemented to reduce community risk
▪ Funds would support additional education, outreach, and implementation of safety and
risk reduction programs

Fact #3: Revenues for maintenance of District equipment, apparatus, and facilities
▪ The District has worked hard to improve and replace our fleet without incurring any debt
▪ The cost of a new fire engine is now $945,000, an increase of 72% since 2017,
representing nearly 40% of our annual budget
▪ With annual cost increases of over 10% on many essential pieces of equipment,
additional funds are needed to maintain the quality and level of gear for our responders
▪ These funds will be used to maintain our fleet with escalating costs and supply chain
issues.

Fact #4: Fire District cost to taxpayers
▪ The District is funded by a mix of sales tax (50%), property tax (40%), and construction
fees (10%)
▪ Sales tax is provided by the Town of Estes Park and is mostly paid by visitors
▪ Estes Valley Fire has one of the lowest property tax rates in the state of all fire agencies,
and is currently less than half the Library and less than a third of the Rec District
▪ On a median priced home of $750,000, a homeowner currently pays $107 per year
▪ The proposed mill levy increase is 2.9 mills, bringing the total mill levy to 4.9
▪ For a residential property, 2.9 mills is $20.15 per $100,000 of valuation per year
▪ For a commercial property, 2.9 mills is $84.10 per $100,000 of valuation per year
▪ This vote for 2.900 mills would increase a median priced home annual cost by $156,
or $13 per month