DENVER — Colorado fire departments could receive additional funding under a new bill being discussed by state lawmakers.
SB24-194, otherwise known as Special District Emergency Services Funding, passed through committee with a 6-1 vote Thursday.
The bill would allow fire protection districts to impose something called a "fire impact fee" on certain new construction, and to levy a sales tax that would generate additional revenue.
“We’ve suddenly got to find a way to handle an increased call volume, and we don’t have the resources locally,” Grand Fire Protection District Chief Brad White said. “That money has to come from somewhere.”
White and a handful of other fire chiefs testified at the state Capitol building Thursday morning, saying growth in their districts has left them underfunded.
White says most fire protection districts rely primarily on property tax for revenue, making it difficult to repeatedly ask residents to foot the bill on property tax increases.
“Are we going to rely on our taxpayers, who have been paying taxes for 40 years, to foot that? Or does new growth help pay for new growth,” White asked.
Ted Leighty with the Colorado Association of Homebuilders is against the legislation, with concerns about additional taxes on new construction.
“Imposing more fees on homebuyers could potentially make new housing units even more expensive for future residents, further exacerbating our affordability challenges,” Leighty said.
The bill now moves on to the full state Senate for additional discussion.
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