Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District representatives say a bill passed after a special legislative session this August could have financial impacts on their operations, so the district is proactively looking into options to mitigate its affect on the community.

Officials with the district notified Breckenridge Town Council on Feb. 11 of a ballot measure they are considering that would ensure the fire district has adequate funds to not only serve the community’s emergency needs, but also continue with fire risk reduction efforts.

While the plans aren’t set in stone, voters in the Upper Blue basin could see a request to increase the mill levy from 9 to 13 mills in a special election designated for filling four board member seats on May 6. 

Fire officials said for a $1 million home, the mill levy increase could translate to an additional $260 a year in property taxes. 

Fire & EMS chief Drew Hoehn said this is a “generational ask,” noting the last time the district went to voters to change the mill levy was in 2006. He said they do not want to go to voters in a “crisis situation” asking for an increase. Instead, they want to be prepared and have solid funding to continue their work in the community. 

He said the passing of House Bill 1001 is propelling fire officials whose agencies are their own tax districts — versus being apart of a larger tax district — to gear up for changes in tax revenue. The bill relates to property taxes and what districts can collect. It aims to cut property taxes owed in 2026 by what state officials estimate to be $255 million. Red, White & Blue Fire representatives say their special district might not have the funding they anticipated in the coming years because of this and it would likely cause the district to operate in a budget deficit if no changes are made.

Hoehn said the district felt it was responsible to go to the community and ask for 13 mills since officials found it was their “sweet spot.”

He said the district’s finance team vetted six different options when deciding on a potential change in how they collect property taxes. He said they landed on 13 mills because they felt it is both the most conservative and financially responsible approach.

Red, White & Blue Fire representatives said their potential ask is akin to what Summit Fire & EMS asked voters to approve in 2021. Voters granted Summit Fire & EMS a boost in its mill levy, which is now 13 mills.

The fire district plans to connect with all their partners including municipalities, Altitude Realtors, law enforcement agencies and business organizations before officially introducing the ballot measure. There will also likely be community outreach events.   

Hoehn said the district is currently looking for community feedback on potential changes to the mill levy.

Breckenridge officials showed general support for the tentative measure. 

Council member Carol Saade highlighted the agency’s dual accreditation, noting she just “learned how special and unique that is.”

According to Hoehn, the district is one of 17 in the nation to be accredited by both the Center for Public Safety Excellence and the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

Mayor Kelly Owens wondered how they were adjusting for changes at the federal level, which could affect the district.

“We keep getting notification about the (U.S.) Forest Service budget getting cut and cut, and they’re not providing some of the patrol services and things that they’ve done in the past,” she said. “I’m curious … what you guys are doing, (are there) any changes in your efforts going forward.”

Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District chief executive officer Jay Nelson said they are looking into wildland specialists to aid with mitigation inspections and to better help the organization ready itself in the event of a wildfire. He said, in part, the potential mill levy increase would help the district fund crucial risk reduction and analysis efforts.

Red, White & Blue officials have said in prior Town Council meetings that the county and particularly Breckenridge have “red zone” designation on maps that determine wildfire risk.

The district has personnel who do insurance-related inspections and help residents who are denied homeowners insurance due to wildfire risk. The agency’s loaner program provides residents with tools that can be used to reduce things that can act as fuel for fires on their property.

The district estimates it protects around $20 billion worth of property between Breckenridge and Blue River and serves around 10,000 residents. Hoehn explained the district and Summit Fire & EMS work in tandem, do not adhere to boundaries when it comes to helping someone who needs it and respond based on proximity to the situation.

No decisions were made at the Feb. 11 meeting.