Your Tax Dollars at Work

Did you know that at least 15 counties and 35 municipalities have measures in place such as sales taxes, lodging taxes and real estate transfer taxes to support open space efforts?

Across the state, counties and municipalities have ballot measures in place to support a variety of open space efforts, from trail maintenance, river restoration and wildfire mitigation, to land acquisition, wildlife protection and more. Their work would not be possible without you: the people of Colorado. Keep It Colorado applauds the work of local agencies to advance conservation and protection of these important open spaces.

Learn about Other colorado Open Space tax measures

Below, you will find measures that will be on Fall 2024 ballots, and a small glimpse of other initiatives already active within the state. For a complete list of all ballot measures impacting the protection of open spaces, please click on the box at right.

Please email Katelyn if you know of a ballot measure that is missing or needs updated.

Ballot Measures: Fall 2024 - ALL PASSED

Gallery - Your Tax Dollars at Work - Ballot Measures

City of Lakewood - Ballot Measure 2A

Lakewood passed ballot measure 2A which will extend revenue retention to protect parks and open spaces, build safer streets, and invest in public safety.

Eagle County Conservation District - Property Tax Mill Levy

Eagle County Conservation District passed a property tax levy of 0.15 mills. The 0.15 mill levy will fund Eagle County’s efforts to collaborate with local landowners, ranchers, and communities to protect water resources, restore ecosystems, and support wildlife. It will also promote sustainable land use, advocate for land stewards, and reduce wildfire risks through forest and grassland restoration.

Superior Sales and Use Tax Increase

Superior increased their sales and use tax by 0.315%. The increase will fund many things, including parks.

City of Engelwood Bond for Parks

The City of Englewood passed a bond that will provide money to improve local parks.

Colorado Springs - Ballot Issue 2C

Colorado Springs passed ballot issue 2C. This will be an extension of a 0.57% sales and use tax for roads. This will include money for access roads to parks and open spaces.

Foothills Park & Recreation District - Ballot Issue 6D

Foothills Park & Recreation District passed ballot issue 6D which extended the existing 2.75 mill levy for parks, trails and facility improvements.

City of Trinidad - Ballot Issue 2A

The City of Trinidad passed ballot issue 2A which will impose an excise tax on lodging of 6% for maintaining local parks and playgrounds; repairing and developing city parks, trails, and playgrounds to support local youth sports, and disabled access; maintaining open space and reducing wildfire risk by removing brush and invasive species.

San Miguel County - Reallocation of Open Space Dollars

San Miguel County asked voters to reallocate a portion of the existing Parks and Open Space mill levy (established in 2001) to affordable housing. This measure passed. Instead of a 1.5 mill levy going to Parks and Open Space, affordable housing will receive 0.5 mill and Parks and Open Space will receive 1 mill. This is a lower allocation of money for open space, but the county claims there will not be a significant decrease in open space dollars since property values have increased.

City of Longmont - Ballot Issue 3A

City of Longmont residents voted to pass ballot issue 3A, which will extend indefinitely an existing two-tenths of a cent sales tax for open space purposes. The money generated will continue to be used to acquire, improve, and maintain open space.

At a Glance: Existing Open Space Taxes Across Colorado

These examples only represent agencies that are members in our coalition - an added perk for members! For a comprehensive view, see the Google sheet.)

Featured

Arapahoe County

Arapahoe County has a 0.25% sales tax for parks and open spaces.

Photo is courtesy of Arapahoe County Open Spaces.

Boulder County

Boulder County has multiple sales and use taxes in place which amount to 0.475% for open spaces.

Photo is courtesy of Boulder County Parks and Open Space.

City of Boulder

The City of Boulder has a 0.15% sales tax to fund the maintenance, restoration, acquisition and preservation of open space land.

Photo is courtesy of City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks.

City of Fort Collins

The City of Fort Collins has a 0.25 % sales tax extension for open space, wildlife habitat, recreation areas.

Photo is courtesy of City of Fort Collins Natural Areas.

Eagle County

Eagle County has a 1.5 mill property tax to protect working farms, wildlife habitat, wetlands, floodplains and public access points to rivers and streams.

Photo courtesy of Eagle County Open Spaces.

Jefferson County

Jefferson County has a 0.5% sales tax for open space.

Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Open Space.

Larimer County

Larimer County has a 0.25 cent sales tax to protect natural areas, open space, rivers and wildlife habitat.

Photo courtesy of Larimer County Natural Resources Department.

Pitkin County

Pitkin County has a property tax mill levy for open space and trails.

Photo courtesy of Pitkin County Open Space & Trails.

Town of Crested Butte

Crested Butte has a 3% real estate transfer tax to acquire open space and 0.5% sales tax increase for parks, recreation and trails.

Photo courtesy of the Town of Crested Butte.

Special thanks to Jason Swann and LandVote at the Trust for Public Land for providing data for this project and to Janis Whisman at Boulder County for the idea.

Learn about Other Colorado Open Space Tax Measures