Voters in the unincorporated areas around Palisade will consider a property tax increase for fire and emergency services on the Nov. 3 ballot. The measure, finalized and submitted to county election officials on Aug. 31, seeks to more than double the current property tax mill levy, jumping from 5.242 mills to 12.5 mills. If approved, the increase would generate an estimated additional $185,000 per year, specifically for fire and emergency services, starting in 2027. This marks the first proposed increase to the Palisade Rural Fire Protection District’s mill levy since the district signed its service contract with the town’s fire department in 2011.
For rural homeowners, the additional property taxes would amount to $42.55 for every $100,000 of their property’s value, according to the ballot language. Palisade Fire Chief Charles Balke indicated that the town requested the increase, citing the rapid growth in costs to provide fire protection over the last decade and a half. Chief Balke also noted that the cost to outfit an individual firefighter has more than doubled in the past decade, and the prices of fire apparatuses have seen fast growth. Furthermore, the Palisade Fire Department has transitioned from a largely volunteer-run operation in 2011 to primarily a professional one with paid, full- and part-time employees.
The existing intergovernmental agreement between the Palisade Rural Fire Protection District and the town’s fire department ensures service until at least 2031, unless both parties mutually agree to end it. Under this agreement, the Palisade Fire Department is obligated to provide the rural district with emergency medical services, fire inspections, and any other services it offers within the town limits. In return, the rural district must remit all revenues collected through its dedicated mill levy to Palisade, retaining only a small portion for administrative expenses. Palisade Town Trustee and Rural Fire Protection District liaison Ed Seymour stated that the proposed change would align the rural area's mill levies with those in Clifton, a neighboring unincorporated community. Seymour also expressed a sentiment of having waited, saying, "I wish we hadn’t waited as long as we have."
Should the measure fail to pass in November, Chief Balke stated the town might need to shift priorities for programs. He cautioned that continued funding shortages could necessitate cuts to public education efforts and staff numbers. Such reductions, according to Chief Balke, could complicate emergency response efforts, particularly when the area experiences multiple fires simultaneously, potentially making such scenarios more likely due to a decreased ability to respond to secondary calls. Palisade Rural Fire Protection District Board Vice Chair Terry Moreland expressed hope that these measures would not be necessary. Moreland noted that in his informal conversations with constituents, taxpayers in the rural area seemed open to the requested tax increase, acknowledging the significant cost changes since 2011. He also mentioned that the district has explored potential contingency plans with fire officials in Clifton.
