Your Tax Dollars at Work
Did you know that at least 15 counties and 35 municipalities have measures in place such as sales taxes, lodging taxes and real estate transfer taxes to support open space efforts?
Across the state, counties and municipalities have ballot measures in place to support a variety of open space efforts, from trail maintenance, river restoration and wildfire mitigation, to land acquisition, wildlife protection and more. Their work would not be possible without you: the people of Colorado. Keep It Colorado applauds the work of local agencies to advance conservation and protection of these important open spaces.
Below, you will find measures that will be on Fall 2025 ballots, and a small glimpse of other initiatives already active within the state. For a complete list of all ballot measures impacting the protection of open spaces, please click on the box at right.
Please email Katelyn if you know of a ballot measure that is missing or needs updated.
Ballot Measures: Fall 2026
Berthoud, CO is asking voters to authorize up to $28 million in bonds to fund parks and recreation improvements, including Mountain Vista Park, ballfields, and aquatic recreation features. The bonds would be repaid using existing sales and use tax revenue, without increasing taxes. The measure will go before voters on November 3, 2026.
Palisade, CO is asking voters to raise the town's sales tax from 2% to 3%, with a portion of the revenue directed toward park improvements. The measure will go before voters on November 3, 2026.
The city of Longmont is asking voters via ballot measure 3B if lands the city holds as open space should only be able to leave public ownership via consent of the public.
The City of Aurora is asking voters to direct a 0.129% sales tax toward repaying bonds through 2057, funding community facilities including park renovations and the construction of new parks. The measure will go before voters on November 3, 2026.
Huerfano County is asking voters to approve a 2-mill property tax increase to develop, improve, and maintain new and existing parks, recreation facilities, and cultural facilities. The measure will go before voters on November 3, 2026.
Lafayette, CO is asking voters to extend an existing property tax through 2046 to fund capital improvements and maintenance at the 12-acre LaMont Does Park. The measure will go before voters on November 3, 2026.
Cedaredge, CO is asking voters to approve a 1% sales and use tax increase to fund roads, public safety, economic development, and public recreation, including the development and maintenance of trails and public parks. At least 20% of the revenue would support public recreation. The measure will go before voters on November 3, 2026.
Greeley, CO is asking voters to approve a 0.6% sales and use tax increase to fund capital projects, including city parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, trails, and other outdoor spaces. The measure will go before voters on November 3, 2026.
Idaho Springs, CO is asking voters to approve a tax on paid outdoor recreation experiences to help address the impacts of commercial outdoor recreation on city resources. The proposed tax would be $3 per customer per experience, with the city able to increase it to $5. Revenue could support city parks and open spaces, transportation, public safety, and water and wastewater services. The measure will go before voters on November 3, 2026.
Wheat Ridge, CO is asking voters to approve a 1% sales and use tax increase, expected to raise up to $11.7 million in its first full year, to fund community investments. These would include preserving parks, fields, and open space at the former Wilmore-Davis and Kullerstrand elementary school sites and replacing the 1979 Anderson Park outdoor pool. The tax would also support street maintenance, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and new police and city facilities. The measure goes before voters on November 3, 2026.
At a Glance: Existing Open Space Taxes Across Colorado
These examples only represent agencies that are members in our coalition - an added perk for members! For a comprehensive view, see the Google sheet.)
Arapahoe County has a 0.25% sales tax for parks and open spaces.
Photo is courtesy of Arapahoe County Open Spaces.
Boulder County has multiple sales and use taxes in place which amount to 0.475% for open spaces.
Photo is courtesy of Boulder County Parks and Open Space.
The City of Boulder has a 0.15% sales tax to fund the maintenance, restoration, acquisition and preservation of open space land.
Photo is courtesy of City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks.
The City of Fort Collins has a 0.25 % sales tax extension for open space, wildlife habitat, recreation areas.
Photo is courtesy of City of Fort Collins Natural Areas.
Douglas County has a 0.17% sales and use tax for the acquisition, administration, planning, development and construction, operations, and maintenance of parks, trails, historic resources, and open space.
Photo is courtesy of Douglas County.
Eagle County has a 1.5 mill property tax to protect working farms, wildlife habitat, wetlands, floodplains and public access points to rivers and streams.
Photo courtesy of Eagle County Open Spaces.
Jefferson County has a 0.5% sales tax for open space.
Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Open Space.
Larimer County has a 0.25 cent sales tax to protect natural areas, open space, rivers and wildlife habitat.
Photo courtesy of Larimer County Natural Resources Department.
Pitkin County has a property tax mill levy for open space and trails.
Photo courtesy of Pitkin County Open Space & Trails.
Crested Butte has a 3% real estate transfer tax to acquire open space and 0.5% sales tax increase for parks, recreation and trails.
Photo courtesy of the Town of Crested Butte.
Special thanks to Jason Swann and LandVote at the Trust for Public Land for providing data for this project and to Janis Whisman at Boulder County for the idea.
