The Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District held a special election May 6 to fill four board of director seats and propose two funding-related ballot measures. The measures looked to increase the mill levy from 9 to 13 mills and waive a state-imposed 5.25% property tax limit.

District officials say a Colorado state bill that lowers residential assessment rates and caps revenue increases to lower property taxes could affect the district’s funding. 

Fire & EMS chief Drew Hoehn told Summit Daily News in February that the district explored several options for how much to ask voters to increase the mill levy and landed on a 4 mill increase as the “sweet spot.”

Unofficial results on the district’s website show that Ballot Issue A, regarding the mill levy, received 779 “yes” votes and 756 “no” votes. Ballot Issue B, asking to waive the 5.25% property tax limit, received 715 “yes” votes and 816 “no” votes.

District Chief Jay Nelson wrote in an email to Summit Daily News that these ballot issues pass or fail on a simple majority, or anything over 50%, adding that the district’s 2006 mill levy passed by one vote. With the unofficial totals, Ballot Issue A seems likely to pass while Ballot Issue B seems likely to fail.

A frequently asked questions page on the district website states that without both ballot issues passing, the district “is anticipated to lose $5,150,950 in funding over the next five years.”

The election also filled four board seats, and the four candidates who ran were all previous board members. The three candidates for four-year terms — Randall Nations, Mary Kathleen Dore and Britton Fossett — received 1,140, 1,010 and 989 votes, respectively. Austyn Dineen, the only candidate for a two-year term, received 1,085 votes.