1. Rising 911 calls (26,000 residents living in Evergreen). Calls have increased 107% over the last 10 years (2,097 calls for service in 2016; 4,340 calls in 2025). Additional full-time firefighters & paramedics are needed to provide 24/7 staffing at the fire stations to ensure the strongest possible emergency response.

2. Increased fire risk. More than two-thirds of Jefferson County is in a designated wildfire hazard area.
   Source: https://www.jeffco.us/4332/Wildfire-Commission. Additional funding is needed to hire more wildland firefighters, expanding coverage from the current 4 days per week to 7-day coverage.

3. Replacement of outdated fire engines. Costs have more than doubled in 5 years, increasing from approximately $650,000 for one fire engine in 2020 to $1.4 million in 2025.

4. Rebuilding/consolidation of two outdated fire stations that can no longer meet the facility/equipment needs of firefighters, nor accommodate larger, more modern fire engines. These include Station 1 (built in 1965) by the Evergreen dam & Station 4 (built in 1984) on Highway 73. The future, consolidated Station 1 will be located at 5071 Hwy 73.

5. Expanding 24/7 staffing across the district’s 8 fire stations. While one station is fully staffed around the clock, only three additional stations have partial 24/7 staffing.

6. Expanding the ECARES program, which provides free, in-home paramedic visits to help Evergreen residents stay healthy, independent, & live safely at home for as long as possible. Since 2017, patient visits have increased 3,767%—from 43 visits in its first year to 1,663 visits in 2025.

7. Personal protective equipment, medical equipment, & medical supplies have experienced an overall 70% increase in cost over the last 10 years. One example: the cost of firefighter pants increased from $950 in 2019–2020 to $1,784 in 2025–2026, an 88% increase.

8. Rising training costs. For example, the Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado annual state conference costs nearly doubled from 2018 to 2025, with single-day registration rising from $180 to nearly $370 per person.

9. Community education programs. Funding is needed to continue fire safety, CPR/AED, wildfire preparedness, & other programs that help residents prevent emergencies & stay prepared.

   Without additional revenue by 2027, Evergreen Fire/Rescue will face significant challenges in maintaining the high level of fire & emergency services our community depends on.

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   A 0.89% sales tax on goods purchased within the Fire Protection District would generate an estimated $5.44M in revenue. Vote YES on 7B!

The proposed Evergreen Fire Protection District sales tax is 0.89%. This would be added to applicable existing state, county, municipal, & other local sales taxes.

A 0.89% sales tax means a $100 taxable purchase in Evergreen would add 89 cents in sales tax to your bill. The revenue from this tax would go directly to support Evergreen Fire/Rescue. A 0.89% sales tax on goods purchased within the Fire Protection District would generate an estimated $5.44M in revenue. Learn about rising costs.

Note that visitors from surrounding communities who shop at Walmart & Home Depot or enjoy Evergreen’s local businesses & venues would also contribute to the revenue generated by the sales tax.

Included:

• Restaurants, caterers

• Short-term rentals, hotels, & resorts

• Social clubs & nightclubs

• Goods, wares, merchandise, products, & commodities purchased for personal property

• Digital goods delivered or stored by digital means, such as videos, music, or electronic books

• Online purchases, including Amazon orders (key factor is where the taxable goods are delivered, not where the buyer lives)

NOT included:

• Groceries

• Prescription drugs & insulin

• Diapers, incontinence products, & feminine products

• Medical supplies such as blood testing kits & prosthetics prescribed by a doctor

• Professional services such as roofers, plumbers, etc.

• Agricultural items such as farm equipment, seeds, pesticides, livestock, & certain heavy-duty vehicle components

• Manufacturing equipment such as machinery & machine tools

• Energy & fuel for residential purposes: electricity, coal, gas, & oil

• Subscriptions for cable television, satellite television, or satellite radio

See the Colorado Department of Revenue Sales Tax Guide for more information.

Anyone making taxable purchases within the Evergreen Fire Protection District, including residents/homeowners & visitors.

A stronger, more prepared Evergreen Fire/Rescue means faster, more reliable emergency services when you or someone you love needs help & calls 911.

Faster, Safer Emergency Response

• More firefighters staffed at fire stations, able to respond immediately instead of waiting for volunteer firefighters to drive to the station, put on protective gear, & respond

• Neighborhood volunteer firefighters would still play a critical role, often arriving first, but staffed fire engines can begin arriving much sooner

‍Better Service During Multiple Emergencies

• Additional staffing provides coverage for routine calls, while keeping another engine available for the next emergency

• More personnel reduces the need to move fire engines across the district to maintain adequate coverage

  • “Adequate coverage” is based on the 2026 Standard of Cover, an independent assessment that defines staffing needs based on call type and severity

  • The Standard of Cover is based on the NFPA Standard 1710, national data, & Evergreen Fire/Rescue’s own data

• Additional firefighters allow ambulance crews to split, keeping one paramedic at the primary station (Station 2 on Bergen Parkway) to staff a second ambulance during periods of high call volume

Stronger Wildfire Response

• A dedicated wildland crew available 7 days a week instead of the current 4-day staffing

• Increased neighborhood & evacuation route mitigation projects

• Faster wildfire response with wildland firefighters already working in the district, thereby improving initial attack & reducing fire growth potential

• Structure fires can ignite wildfires, making additional crew essential to address the wildfire threat while other firefighters focus on the structure fire & any search & rescue efforts that are needed

Improved Firefighter Safety

• Increased staffing allows firefighters to operate more safely & effectively

• Current staffing, at times, does not meet the personnel required for safe interior firefighting under the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (“2-in/2-out”)

  • This standard requires that at least 2 firefighters enter together & and at least 2 standby firefighters remain outside, ready to take action

• A single firefighter responding to a fire (as is often the case at Station 1 by the dam) is expected to drive, navigate, assess the emergency situation upon arrival, develop an action plan, pump the fire engine & deploy hose (if needed), & manage incoming resources—a demanding workload that increases risk

‍Recruitment and Retention of Firefighters & Paramedics

• Competitive pay & benefits help recruit and retain highly trained firefighters & paramedics from a larger pool of candidates

• Better staffing improves morale, reduces burnout, & supports long-term retention ‍

Modernized Equipment & Facilities

• Replacing aging fire engines reduces maintenance costs, improves reliability, & helps ensure that equipment is available when needed

• The current design of Station 1 by the dam (built in 1965) has both health & operational challenges:

  • It does not provide enough workspace to staff firefighters, or safely separate contaminated uniforms & equipment after fires

  • The station’s garage height limits which fire engines can be housed inside; newer engines must have their ladder racks removed before entering, creating a safety risk each time they are moved inside

  • Modernized facilities create a better work environment, boost morale, & support long-term staff retention

‍ ‍Protecting the Services You Rely On

• A sales tax provides stable, sustainable funding for Evergreen Fire/Rescue

• A sales tax provides a broader, more stable revenue source than relying solely on property taxes, which can fluctuate & lead to unexpected reductions in services

• A sales tax allows improvements to be made sooner, preserving funds that would otherwise lose purchasing power due to inflation

• Visitors who shop, dine, & recreate in Evergreen also help fund local emergency services through sales tax revenue, reducing the burden on district residents/homeowners

Yes, if the goods are delivered within Evergreen. Colorado sales tax generally applies to taxable goods purchased online & delivered to an address in Colorado. Online marketplaces such as Amazon are required to collect & remit applicable Colorado state and local sales taxes on taxable purchases.

Because Colorado generally sources sales tax to the location where the purchaser receives the goods, taxable purchases delivered to addresses within the Evergreen Fire Protection District would be subject to the applicable district sales tax if the November ballot proposal passes. Remember, the sales tax proposal is 0.89%, meaning that the proposed district sales tax would add $0.89 for every $100 of taxable goods delivered to an address within the district.

The key factor is where the taxable goods are delivered, not simply where the buyer lives.

See the Colorado Department of Revenue Sales Tax Guide for more information.

The sales tax will remain in effect indefinitely.

The new revenue would fund critical operational & safety needs, including:

• Paid firefighter & paramedic staffing to improve emergency response capability

• Volunteer recruitment, training, equipment, & support programs

• Fire & medical equipment

• Medical supplies

• Safety gear

• Wildfire prevention & vegetation mitigation

• Replacement of outdated fire engines

• Fire station improvements

• Fire prevention & risk reduction programs

• Community education programs

Yes. The rebuilding/consolidation of two outdated fire stations that can no longer meet the facility/equipment needs of firefighters, nor accommodate larger, more modern fire engines include Station 1 by the Evergreen dam & Station 4 on Highway 73. The consolidated fire station, which will be called Station 1, will be located at 5071 Hwy 73.

Read more about the project on the Evergreen Fire/Rescue website & click the menu in the left margin to view the project’s evolvement.

SHALL EVERGREEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED BY $5,440,000 ANNUALLY COMMENCING ON JANUARY 1, 2027, AND BY WHATEVER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, FROM A 0.89 PERCENT SALES TAX, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING HIGH LEVELS OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, INCLUDING RECRUITING VOLUNTEER AND PAID FIREFIGHTER AND PARAMEDIC STAFF, AND ENHANCING REVENUE SOURCES FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITY AND NECESSARY CAPITAL UPGRADES, REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENTS, SUCH SALES TAX TO BE IN ADDITION TO ALL OTHER TAXES LEVIED BY THE DISTRICT AND NOT TO SUPPLANT ANY FUNDING THAT THE DISTRICT VOTERS PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED OR WHICH IT IS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE BY LAW?

Evergreen Fire/Rescue will not be able to achieve its staffing goals or expand fire & emergency services to the level of safety & service that Evergreen residents expect and deserve. The consolidation and replacement of Stations 1 & 4 also cannot be achieved without additional revenue, limiting the district’s ability to modernize its facilities & improve operational efficiency.

Fire prevention and risk-reduction programs may be reduced or eliminated. Fire engines that have reached the end of their service life may not be replaced—or replacement may be delayed.

The Evergreen Fire Protection District Board of Directors oversees the district’s budget & how sales tax revenue is allocated.

The Colorado Department of Revenue will collect and distribute the revenue to the district. By law, the revenue may be used only to fund fire protection services within the district.

• By attending the 5:30 pm monthly Evergreen Fire Protection District Board of Directors meetings held the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Evergreen Fire/Rescue Administration building, 1802 Bergen Parkway. Meeting notices are displayed on the Evergreen Fire/Rescue website (scroll down & click “View Event Center” on the left to view the calendar).

• By viewing the State of the District report, which is placed on the Evergreen Fire/Rescue website in April of each year. | 2025 report

View the Evergreen Fire Protection District Transparency Notice for more information.

In 2016, when voters approved a mill levy increase.

Voters have never been asked to approve a sales tax specifically for Evergreen Fire/Rescue.

Diversification of revenue.

For Evergreen Fire/Rescue, the key points are:

• Greater financial stability — revenue comes from more than one source

• Less reliance on property taxes — a sales tax provides another way to generate revenue without relying solely on property values

• Broader contribution base — visitors to Evergreen who make taxable purchases in the district also contribute

• More predictable funding — helps the district plan for staffing, equipment, facilities, & other long-term needs

• Better ability to keep pace with rising costs — fire engines, personal protective equipment, medical supplies, training, & staffing costs continue to increase; learn more about Rising Costs

• Supports long-term planning — more diversified revenue makes it easier to plan for major capital needs rather than addressing them only when funding becomes available

Recent state legislation now gives fire protection districts the option to seek voter approval for a sales tax on taxable transactions within their districts. This proposal provides Evergreen Fire/Rescue with a new opportunity to diversify its revenue, while addressing growing staffing, equipment, facility, wildfire, & emergency service needs.

Learn more about SB24-194 and what it means for fire districts.

No. The district would not reduce property tax funding or other existing revenue if the sales tax passes.

No. As noted on the ballot, the proposed sales tax (0.89%) would generate an estimated $5.44M annually. If the first-year revenue exceeds that amount, the excess is subject to the Colorado Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) requirements, resulting in a one-time lowering of the tax rate or current mill levy.

In subsequent years, the amount collected can increase or decrease based on taxable sales while the approved sales tax rate remains 0.89%.

Many neighboring mountain fire districts rely primarily on property tax revenue to fund fire & emergency services. Evergreen Fire/Rescue is proposing a 0.89% sales tax to provide an additional, more diversified source of revenue.

Under recent Colorado approved legislation, SB24-194 allows fire protection districts to seek voter approval for a sales tax on taxable transactions occurring within the district.

Evergreen's proposal is different:

• Property tax is primarily tied to property ownership/value & can fluctuate, causing unforeseen reductions in emergency services.

• Sales tax is generated through taxable purchases made within the district.

Evergreen's proposed 0.89% sales tax is in line with other Colorado fire districts. Among the Colorado fire districts listed by the Colorado Department of Revenue, district sales taxes range from 0.50% to 1.50%, with an average of approximately 0.84%.

Evergreen & other Colorado fire districts with sales taxes & their corresponding sales tax rates:

• Evergreen 0.89% + Jefferson County sales tax of 4.5% = 5.39%

• Aspen 0.50% + City of Aspen & Pitkin County sales tax of 9.85% = 10.35%

• Cortez 0.54% + City of Cortez & Montezuma County sales tax of 7.13% = 7.67%

• Eagle River 0.79% + City of Eales & Eagle County sales tax of 8.61% = 9.40%

• Frederick-Firestone 0.50% + Cities of Frederick-Firestone & Weld County sales tax of 6.50% = 7.00%

• La Veta 0.50% + City of La Veta & Huerfano County sales tax of 8.90% = 9.40%

• South Adams County 0.50% + city of Commerce City & Adams County sales tax of 8.75% = 9.25%

• Cimarron Hills 1.00% + El Paso County sales tax of 5.13% = 6.13%

• Clifton 1.00% + Mesa County sales tax of 5.27% = 6.27%

• Evans 1.00% + City of Evans & Weld County sales tax of 7.40% = 8.40%

• Berthoud 1.00% + City of Berthoud & Boulder County sales tax of 7.95% = 8.95%

• Lake City Area 1.25% + Hinsdale County sales tax of 7.90% = 9.15%

• Carbondale & Rural 1.50% + City of Carbondale & Garfield County sales tax of 8.65% = 10.15%

Source: https://spl.cde.state.co.us/artemis/revserials/rev914internet/rev914202601internet.pdf

The 8 stations are located throughout the 126-square-mile Evergreen Fire Protection District. Station 1 (by the Evergreen dam, built in 1965) and Station 4 (on Highway 73, built in 1984) are to be consolidated.

Read more about the future Station 1 project & click in the left margin to see its progress.

Refer to the fire stations locations map for more information about the individual stations. Click the menu on the left margin to see a picture of each station & its details.

Share the ballot measure information with your family, friends, & neighbors so they can make an informed decision, too. Flyers are available for downloading/printing: Fact sheet | FAQ flyer | HOA flyer.

Email info@citizens4evergreenfirerescue.com and a member of our Citizens 4 Evergreen Fire/Rescue team will respond as soon as possible.

You are also welcome to stop by the Evergreen Fire/Rescue Administration building at 1802 Bergen Parkway to speak with someone in person. Enter through the main doors, turn left, & take the stairs to the main office.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Vote by 7:00 pm. You can find voter registration information, your voting location, & sample ballots on the Jefferson County Election website.

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