Pitkin County Voters Approve $5.27 Million Nonprofit Tax Levy

Gunnison —63.73%. That is the unofficial approval rate for Pitkin County Ballot Issue 1A as of Wednesday evening.

The number answers a question that has dominated local conversation for months: Will the people of Pitkin County keep paying to prop up the social safety net?

Yes. They will. And they are doing it with a 0.853-mill property tax levy that is set to run for the next 25 years.

Let’s do the math on what that actually means for your wallet. According to the ballot language, the levy is projected to raise approximately $5.27 million in its first full year going forward. In subsequent years, the revenue fluctuates based on property values and tax rates, but the baseline is clear. For context, that is a significant chunk of change for a county with a relatively small taxable base. It is not a one-time donation; it is a recurring line item on your property tax bill for the next quarter-century.

The Aspen Times reported that voters overwhelmingly supported the renewal, which has funded local services for the past 24 years. The money flows to qualified nonprofit applicants, selected by a volunteer citizen grants committee. It is not a slush fund for the commissioners; it is a pipeline to organizations that already exist and are currently stretched thin.

Pitkin County Commissioner Greg Poschman called the result "elated and grateful," noting that the support benefits the entire valley. He emphasized that the fund provides "secure and consistent funding" to these organizations, arguing it makes the community stronger for 25 years into the future.

Commissioner Ted Mahon took a harder line on the necessity of the vote. He pointed to increased federal cuts to programs, suggesting that without this local levy, people in the valley could fall through the cracks. "I think we all could agree that it feels good to know we live in a place where the voters are willing to contribute to a fund that generally supports those in need," Mahon told the paper. He framed the passage as critical precisely because of that federal retreat.

Snowmass Village Council Member Cecily DeAngelo echoed the urgency, specifically citing essentials like food assistance and community health. She told The Aspen Times that when federal support falls short, this fund helps local nonprofits and county services keep their doors open.

The impact isn't just abstract "community health." It is specific to organizations like The Buddy Program, which empowers youth through mentorship. Executive Director Lindsay Lofaro told The Aspen Times that the fund plays a critical role in their budget each year. More importantly, she noted it allows them to leverage gifts from other local and statewide organizations, municipalities, and foundations. In practice, the county tax acts as a matching engine for private philanthropy.

For context, this is not about building new infrastructure or paving roads. It is about maintaining the operational viability of the nonprofit sector in a high-cost environment where federal grants are shrinking.

The practical bottom line for locals is straightforward: Your property tax bill will reflect this 0.853-mill increase. The revenue stream is locked in for a generation. In exchange, the valley retains a dedicated funding source for food assistance, youth mentorship, and community health services that would otherwise face deeper cuts. You are buying continuity in a volatile federal landscape.