POTENTIAL FUNDING PROPOSALS

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

INTRODUCTION

Why is Aspen Fire Protection District considering placing two funding proposals on
the November 2025 ballot?

Aspen Fire Protection District faces many capital facility, operating, and budget-related challenges. The Fire District is considering placing two funding proposals on the November 2025 ballot to address wildfire mitigation and response; maintain emergency call times; protect emergency services and the health, wellness, and safety of first responders; and extend the useful life of existing facilities.

What types of funding proposals are being considered?

The Fire District may seek to extend an existing mill levy of .24 mills (twenty-four hundredths of one mill) and implement a half-cent (0.5%) sales tax.

How would the funds from the mill levy extension be used?

Revenue from extending an existing 0.24 mill levy would go toward:

• Addressing high-priority infrastructure and deferred maintenance projects at the Fire District’s five fire stations, including adding power storage systems; replacing outdated mechanical systems; handling roofing, siding, and resurfacing needs; improving HVAC and air quality; and making sustainability upgrades
• Replacing outdated apparatus and implementing an updated replacement schedule

How would proceeds from the half-cent sales tax be used?

Revenue from the half-cent sales tax would go toward:

• Significantly enhancing wildfire mitigation and response capabilities by adding personnel and equipment
• Integrating additional fire industry technology, including more wildfire early detection and response systems
• Attracting, retaining, and training firefighters, along with additional wildfire and support staff
• Strengthening health and wellness efforts for first responders, including enhancing cancer prevention and mental health programs, providing a second set of bunker gear, and phasing in PFAS-free equipment

What are the anticipated benefits of the two funding proposals?

The anticipated benefits of the two funding proposals include:

• Improving wildfire mitigation and response
• Protecting response times and emergency services
•  Strengthening first responder health and wellness initiatives
•  Improving equipment and apparatus reliability
• Extending the useful life and efficiency of existing fire stations
•  Potentially improving access to and/or reducing the cost of homeowners insurance
• Sharing the cost of emergency services with all consumers, including visitors and out-of-town shoppers
• Creating a more resilient, financially secure Fire District

What are Aspen Fire District’s most significant challenges?

The Fire District is facing many challenges, including:

• Wildfire risk and mitigation needs
• Increasingly unpredictable property tax revenues
• Dramatically increasing call volumes
• Rapidly rising costs of apparatus, equipment, and operations
• Service gaps due to staffing and resource limitations
• Recruiting, training, and retaining volunteer and career firefighters
•  Aging infrastructure, equipment, and apparatus
• Protecting firefighters’ safety and health

What is wildfire mitigation, and why is it important?

Wildfire mitigation involves proactively reducing the risk and impact of wildfires. This includes removing combustible materials, thinning trees, and creating defensible space to help protect homes, property, and lives. Mitigation efforts slow fire spread, improve firefighter safety, and strengthen a community’s wildfire resilience. Making Aspen into a fire-resistive landscape not only protects life and property but allows residents to return to their homes safely and more quickly after a fire.

What wildfire mitigation services does Aspen Fire Protection District offer?

Aspen Fire Protection District's Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) focuses on reducing wildfire risks by offering wildfire mitigation assessments, identifying vulnerable structures, reducing on-the-ground fuels, and protecting evacuation routes.

Are wildfires increasing and becoming more destructive?

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe across Colorado, including in the Aspen area. The number of wildfires in the state has more than doubled in the past two decades, growing to approximately 7,200 fires per year between 2020-2023. With Aspen facing a higher risk of wildfires, mitigation efforts and preparedness are essential. The largest recorded timber fire in Colorado occurred in 2000, when 22,000 acres burned. We now have fires that grow five times that size in a single afternoon.

How do the proposals address the growing risk of catastrophic wildfires?

Aspen FPD seeks to add personnel and equipment to strengthen wildfire response and expand community-wide wildfire mitigation efforts—from landscape restoration to homeowner preparedness. Additional advanced wildfire early detection systems and other forward-leaning fire industry service enhancements would also be integrated.

How many additional volunteer firefighters are needed?

The Fire District seeks to recruit at least 12 more volunteer firefighters in the coming years, increasing the total number to 60.

What facility improvements does Aspen Fire seek to address?

A variety of important improvements are needed at the Fire District’s five fire stations, including adding power storage systems; replacing outdated mechanical systems; handling roofing, siding, and resurfacing needs; improving HVAC and air quality; and making sustainability upgrades.

What additional apparatus does the Fire District currently need?

The Fire District seeks to replace fire engines, a water tender, a brush truck, and other apparatus that have reached the end of their safe and economical service life, and to maintain a proper replacement schedule going forward. These measures are critical to reducing the risks associated with breakdowns, accidents, and downtime of essential apparatus.

What additional emergency equipment does Aspen Fire need?

Firefighters’ protective clothing can carry hazardous residue into fire stations, increasing cancer risk. In fact, firefighters have a 9% higher risk of developing cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer compared to the general public. Having a second set of bunker gear (turnouts) would help reduce this exposure. Additionally, the Fire District seeks to provide PFAS-free equipment (free from toxic chemical treatments) and acquire additional rescue equipment to enhance emergency response capabilities.

Why is access to mental health support important for firefighters? 
Being a firefighter is not only physically demanding but also mentally challenging. Many firefighters experience career-related stress and post-traumatic stress, which can contribute to high rates of divorce, addiction, and suicide. To support their well-being, the Fire District provides critical stress management resources and third-party counseling and is committed to maintaining this vital mental health support.

What is the Fire District’s ISO rating, and how could new funding impact access to homeowners insurance and/or reduce the cost of coverage?

Aspen Fire District currently has an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of 4 based on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the best. This rating reflects above-average fire protection services but means there’s room for improvement. Securing new funding for the proposed investments would help Aspen Fire move toward its goal of achieving an ISO rating of 2. A lower ISO rating can lead to improved access to and/or reduced insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses within the Aspen Fire Protection District.  
 

FUNDING

To what extent are operating expenses increasing for the Fire District?

With inflation rising steadily to 20% in the Denver/Boulder/Lakewood area since 2020, the Fire District’s operating expenses continue to increase, including the cost of maintaining apparatus and equipment, utilities, and personnel. The cost to replace outdated apparatus has also dramatically increased. In just the past five years alone, the cost of a pumper engine, for example, has increased from $675,000 to $1.3 million.

How have changes to state property tax laws impacted the Fire District’s funding?

The Fire District’s revenues decreased by more than $400,000 in 2025 due to changes in the state’s property tax assessment formula. In 2026, the residential assessment rate will decrease further and again negatively impact revenues. Federal grants and reimbursements have also become increasingly unreliable.

How does Aspen Fire currently receive funding?

The Fire District is primarily funded through property taxes. Other funding sources include charitable contributions, inspection fees, and investments. From 2020 to 2024, the Fire District also relied on funding from a large grant. However, these grant monies are no longer available.                                                 

HALF-CENT SALES TAX PROPOSAL

Why is Aspen Fire Protection District considering a sales tax measure?

A sales tax would help diversify the Fire District’s revenues and reduce its reliance on property taxes. This would ensure that visitors and tourists, who heavily rely on our community’s emergency services while visiting, also contribute to their funding.
Does the Fire District currently rely on a sales tax for additional funding?

No. The Fire District does not currently have a sales tax and depends primarily on property tax revenues to fund its emergency services and public safety efforts.

What size sales tax is being considered?

The Fire District is considering placing a sales tax of 0.5% (one half of one percent or a half-cent on every dollar) on the ballot. This equates to 5 cents on a $10 purchase or $20 on the purchase of $4,000 of taxable goods.

What purchases would not be taxed?

The sales tax would exclude necessities like groceries, prescription medications, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and other state tax exemptions.

Would the sales tax apply to the state maximum sales tax?

No.  Sales taxes for fire districts are specifically excluded from the state maximum sales tax.

MILL LEVY EXTENSION PROPOSAL

Why does Aspen Fire Protection District seek to extend an existing mill levy?

The Fire District is considering a mill levy extension to fund high-priority capital needs, including improvements to fire stations, replacement of aging apparatus and implementaiton of an updated apparatus replacement schedule.

What is a mill levy extension?

A mill levy extension allows the Fire District to continue collecting an existing tax rate beyond its current expiration date.                                                                                                                                                                                                               

What size mill levy does the Fire District seek to extend?

The Fire District seeks to extend a mill levy of 0.24 mills that provides approximately $1 million in funding annually and would not  increase the tax rate. 

Why is this extension necessary?

The cost of fire station improvements and apparatus replacement continue to increase. Extending the existing mill levy provides a predictable revenue stream to address these capital needs without adding new taxes.

When will the current mill levy expire?

The existing mill levy is scheduled to be paid off in December 2026. 

How much would taxes go down if the mill levy was not extended and it expired?
It is estimated that taxes would go down by $16.45 per year, or about $1.37 per month, per $1 million of a home’s actual value as determined by the county assessor. 

ABOUT THE FIRE DISTRICT

How large is the Fire District’s service area?

Aspen Fire Protection District serves an area of 87 square miles in Pitkin County, including the Town of Aspen and several unincorporated areas, including Woody Creek, Aspen Village, Brush Creek, and Starwood.

How many residents does AFPD serve, and to what extent does tourism play a role?

Aspen Fire serves approximately 8,500 residents year-round, but tourism during the peak summer and winter seasons increases the population to more than 30,000.  

What services does Aspen Fire provide?

Aspen Fire provides 24/7 emergency response services for fires, hazardous materials, medical emergencies, accidents, and technical rescues. The Fire District also offers fire prevention and emergency preparedness programs, including inspections, wildfire mitigation assessments, permitting, fire code enforcement, community education, and business emergency planning.

How many calls does Aspen Fire respond to each year and to what extent is call volume increasing?

From 2013 to 2023, Aspen FPD’s total call volume increased by 52%, rising from 1,459 calls to more than 2,200. In fact, emergency medical service (EMS) calls increased by 432% during this time period. Last year, the Fire District responded to 2,288 calls, reflecting an additional 7% increase in total call volume.

How many fire stations does the Fire District operate?

AFPD has five fire stations:

• Headquarters: Station 61(Hopkins Avenue, Aspen)
• North 40: Station 62 (Sage Way Road, Aspen)
• Woody Creek: Station 63 (Upper River Road, Woody Creek)
• Aspen Village: Station 64 (Highway 82, Aspen)
• Starwood: Station 65 (Kessler Court, Aspen)

What are the Fire District’s average response times?

In 2024, the average response times from each AFPD station were as follows:

• Station 61: < 5 mins
• Station 62: < 5 mins
• Station 63: ~15 mins
• Station 64: ~15 mins
• Station 65: ~15 mins

How many career firefighters does Aspen Fire employ, and to what extent are volunteers relied upon?

Aspen Fire has 24 full-time employees, including the Fire Chief, and 48 volunteer firefighters. Volunteer participation varies, with some members providing more hours of service than others.  
Why is it difficult to attract and retain volunteer firefighters?

Volunteer firefighter recruitment is challenging for many reasons, including:

• Time commitment
• Work and family priorities
• Training requirements
• Physical demands
• Perceived risk of danger
•  Lack of community outreach

Are there any costs associated with having volunteer firefighter support?

While volunteer firefighter support is cost-effective, it is not entirely without expense. Volunteers do not receive a salary, but they are provided with healthcare, dental, vision, retirement, and fitness/wellness benefits, and, in some cases, housing. Additionally, they undergo extensive training to ensure they have the tools and resources to protect their personal safety while providing the highest level of emergency service.

How many emergency service apparatus are in the Aspen fleet?

The Fire District has five fire engines, one ladder engine, one tender truck, two rescue vehicles, and three brush trucks in its fleet of service apparatus.  More than one-third of these frontline apparatus have reached or are about to reach the end of their safe and economical service life.

COMMUNITY INPUT

How can residents learn more about the two possible funding proposals and provide input?
A districtwide public opinion survey will be mailed this summer. The Fire District will also be hosting public information meetings:

COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETINGS
Aspen Fire Protection District Headquarters
Station 61, Third Floor Conference Room
420 East Hopkins Avenue

• Tuesday, June 17, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Tuesday, June 24, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Saturday, June 28, 10:00-11:00 am

What if residents have additional questions?

Please contact Fire Chief Rick Balentine at rick.balentine@aspenfire.com or Deputy Chief Jake Andersen at jake.andersen@aspenfire.com or call 970.925.5532.