A small minority of the taxpayers and residents in Archuleta County will have an opportunity to vote in the Pagosa Springs Town election on April 7.
Based on past municipal elections, and my vague notions about town politics, I expect fewer than 500 voters to return their mail ballots.
A “small minority”, considering that the entire Archuleta County has 11,678 active voters, as of March 1, 2026.
I’m one of the town electors who vote regularly in municipal elections and I expect to return my ballot prior to April 7.
Town voters mailed their ballots in modest numbers last November, when they were given the opportunity to create a 1% sales tax — to be used to address a failing sanitation system. 389 electors voted ‘Yes’ on that issue; 120 voted ‘No’. That new sales tax is now being paid by everyone who shops or buys lodging stays within the town limits, and its approval has thus far discouraged the Town Council from increasing my sewer bill above $71 a month.
Thus far.
On occasion, the Town holds a competitive election for the Town Council seats, but often, fewer candidates apply than the number of seats available, and that’s the case this year. Only one Mayoral petition and only two Council petitions were received — all incumbents — leaving one Council position to be filled by appointment after the April election.
So the election will involve just two questions, with the opportunity to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ for each question… and no candidates.
From the Town website:
The Town Council has set two questions that residents will see on their April 7 ballot:
1. Charter “penalties” language cleanup: Voters will consider whether to amend the Home Rule Charter so Town Council sets maximum fines and jail sentences for ordinance violations within state law limits.
2. Flood recovery funding (CWCB loan): Voters will consider whether the Town may incur up to $3 million in debt (with a 3-year period of 0% interest) through a Colorado Water Conservation Board flood impact loan to repair and replace flood-damaged public infrastructure, with no tax increase associated with the loan.
What you need to know:
• Ballots will be mailed on March 16.
• Questions? Call the Town Clerk at 970-264-4151.
• Register to vote at govotecolorado.com
Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters this week. Voted Ballots must be in the possession of the Pagosa Town Clerk’s Office no later than 7:00pm on Election Day, April 7. Voted ballots may be returned by U.S. mail or may be hand delivered to the drop off location at Town Hall.
Question 1:
SHALL THE TOWN OF PAGOSA SPRINGS HOME RULE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO MAKE THE MAXIMUM FINES AND JAIL SENTENCES FOR VIOLATIONS OF TOWN ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS TO THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED PURSUANT TO COLORADO STATE LAW, AS SET FORTH IN ORDINANCE NO. 1024 (SERIES 2026)?
The Town government, as a Home Rule municipality, has the power, in some cases, to make laws that differ from those established by the state legislature. In the case of Municipal Court penalties, the Pagosa Springs Home rule Charter specifically states:
The Council shall prescribe by ordinance, limitations on the fines, jail sentences and other penalties for violation of Town ordinances and regulations. Except as necessary to comply with federal or state law, or as otherwise established by ordinance, a fine for a single violation shall not exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and a jail sentence for a single violation shall not exceed one (1) year.
If voters approve this ballot question, the Charter will be amended to read:
The Council shall prescribe by ordinance, limitations on the fines, jail sentences and other penalties for violation of Town ordinances and regulations. FINES AND SENTENCES FOR VIOLATIONS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM FINES AND SENTENCES PERMITTED BY STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.
As I understand this measure, the Town would like to have the ability to collect the maximum fines allowed by state or federal law, as those amounts continue to increase in the future — without having to ask the voters for their permission each time the maximum increases.
If you believe “One Thousand Dollars” is a sufficient maximum penalty for a violation of a Town ordinance — regardless of state and federal maximums — then you would probably choose to vote “No” and retain $1,000 as the maximum fine.
Question 2:
SHALL TOWN OF PAGOSA SPRINGS DEBT BE INCREASED UP TO $3 MILLION WITH A REPAYMENT COST OF UP TO $4,605,297.95, WITHOUT IMPOSING A NEW TAX OR INCREASING EXISTING TAXES, IN THE FORM OF A FLOOD IMPACT LOAN FROM THE COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD WITH LOAN FUNDS TO BE USED SOLELY FOR COSTS OF REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH DAMAGES TO THE TOWN’S PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE CAUSED BY THE OCTOBER 2025 FLOODING, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES TO:
- ROADS
- BRIDGES
- CULVERTS
- TRAILS
- SAN JUAN RIVER FISHERIES HABITAT IMPROVEMENT
- SAN JUAN RIVER RECREATION IMPROVEMENTS
- SAN JUAN RIVER CHANNEL SEDIMENTATION;
…
And so on.
The Town applied for various grants following the two flooding events last October, to repair the damage cause along the banks of the San Juan River. Some grants were awarded, but FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) declined to provide any funding for the repairs.
At a recent Town Council meeting, Council member Gary Williams noted that the flood was a “natural” event, and suggested that perhaps some of the changes made to the San Juan River by the flood could simply be left as they are.
Community Development Director James Dickhoff didn’t think that was a good idea. “The river is an important part of our tourism portfolio and we need to get it cleaned up”… to make it safe, before summer hits, for those recreating in the river.
The rest of the Council agreed with the idea of keeping our tourism portfolio in good shape, and voted to pursue a $3 million loan from CWCB (Colorado Water Conservation Board). The additional municipal debt requires voter approval, however.
According to the ballot language, the loan would be repaid without increasing taxes. This obviously means that monies will be re-directed from other Town needs to repay the loan.
If a voter would like to see the Town put itself up to $4.6 million in debt (when the interest payments on the loan are included) to make repairs to vaguely-defined “public infrastructure”, then you would choose to vote “Yes.”
I plan to vote “No.” I would prefer to have the Tourism Board fund the repairs, since this is a tourism portfolio.
You can learn a little more about the proposed repairs in this Daily Post article.