RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PITKIN
COUNTY, COLORADO, OPPOSING THE TAX INCREASE FOR THE COLORADO
RIVER DISTRICT

RESOLUTION NO. ______-2020

RECITALS:
1. Pitkin County is one of fifteen counties that comprise the Colorado River Water Conservation
District (District).
2. The District has certified a ballot tax question to the fifteen member counties to increase its
property tax revenue by approximately 100%.
3. The District has not expressed any particular need for the tax increase or identified any
projects or purposes for which the tax revenue will be dedicated other than simple statements
that “more money will allow us to do more.”
4. The District is governed by an unelected Board that has no direct responsibility to taxpayers or
for how taxes are spent.
5. Contrary to the experience of Pitkin County voters, the District Board rejected committing
new tax revenues to particular projects or purposes so that taxpayers would be informed of how
their money would be spent. The District Board rejected any definition of any general types of
efforts to be undertaken that would have also informed taxpayers how their money would be
spent. The District Board also rejected a requirement to consult and communicate with local
elected Officials to insure that their efforts and expenditures would be reflective of local
assessment of needs and have a connection to taxpayer desires.
6. The District did an Implementation Plan for how tax revenue would be spent that would have
sufficiently explained the use of additional tax revenues, however this Plan may be changed at
any time by the unelected Board and was not referred to within the ballot question so that
taxpayers could rely upon the Plan’s representations.
7. The only limitation on spending contained within the question is a commitment not to use
funds for fallowing. This limitation is not meaningful as fallowing does not necessarily take
funds to accomplish and there is no limitation on use of the tax for “buy and dry” projects
affecting agricultural land.
8. Historically, the District has spent revenue principally on water development projects and has
not focused upon augmenting stream flows and protection of riparian environments, which are
issues of particular importance to Pitkin County. Pitkin County has been one of, if not the
largest, contributor of tax revenue to the District. Although the District has stated that
environmental protection and stream flow enhancement are goals that they may spend tax

 revenue to improve, there is no guarantee that the increase tax revenue will benefit Pitkin County
or these purposes.
9. Colorado is dealing with an economic slowdown and pandemic and the time is not right for
such a dramatic increase in taxes. This is particularly relevant considering school districts and
fire districts may need increases in taxes to deal with new operation protocols after the
virus. This tax increase will contribute to “tax question overload” making it harder for these
districts to get necessary funds next election cycle.
10. The BOCC finds that it is in the best interests of the citizens of Pitkin County to approve this
Resolution.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Pitkin
County, Colorado that an increase in taxes without an identified use for the tax revenue is
irresponsible and it hereby opposes the property tax increase proposed by the Colorado River
Water Conservation District and authorizes the Chair to sign the Resolution upon the satisfaction
of the County Attorney as to form, and execute any other associated documents necessary to
complete this matter.

INTRODUCED, READ AND ADOPTED ON THE 15th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2020.

ATTEST:

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

By _________________________

By: _____________________________

Jeanette Jones

Steven F. Child, Chair

Deputy County Clerk
Date: ______________

 APPROVED AS TO FORM:

MANAGER APPROVAL

___________________________

_________________________________

John Ely, County Attorney

Jon Peacock, County Manager