La Plata County voters favored higher taxes and increased mill levies to boost city and county services. In the 2025 coordinated election, the county experienced a 47% voter turnout with about 21,000 ballots cast. Out of more than 47,000 active voters, you are watching the local News Network brought to you by the payroll department in Fast Sign Durango. I am Sadie Smith. La Plata County will experience a 1% county sales tax increase starting January 1st, 2026. La Plata County ballot issue one A for the 1 cent sales tax received 56% of votes. The sales tax is expected to generate more than $18 million in 2026. The funds will support county expenses including road and bridge improvements, building maintenance, public safety, wildfire, and natural disaster response, and community programs for veterans seniors in youth, the Durango School District Board of Directors will remain unchanged. School board elections for districts A c and E each included one new candidate and one incumbent board member. Around 70% of voters elected to keep the three candidates who were already on the school board. Vice President Erica Brown, treasurer Rick Peterson and Secretary Andrea Parmenter. Voters approved to increase taxes and impose an additional property tax mill levy to fund Durango's Emergency Services, including a new fully staffed fire station in three Springs City of Durango ballot Issue two A received at the majority vote with nearly 56% voter approval. Durango Fire Protection District ballot issue seven A won by a margin of less than 3% or 236 votes. Issue seven A will increase taxes by nearly $3 million in 2026 to provide fire protection and emergency services within the district. Both issues. Two A and seven A needed to be approved in order to fund the three Springs Fire station issue seven A also states that the city will waive the 5.25% property tax limits set in the taxpayer's bill of Rights known as Tabor. This means the city will be allowed to collect, keep, and spend all excess revenue. Instead of refunding it to taxpayers. Durango Hills taxpayers will lose an additional portion of their local taper refund. In exchange for better roads. Voters approved Durango Hills Road Improvement District number one ballot issue six a to remove the 5.25% limit on annual revenue growth. This will allow the city to keep all generated revenue, including excess revenue. Without restriction, the average homeowner would have received an estimated $100 Taber refund from the road improvement district. Instead, the district will keep the excess revenue and use it to service and maintain neighborhood roads in the Durango Hills area. The ballot issue was passed with more than 85% approval. For more information about this and other stories, visit Durango Local News. Thank you for watching this edition of the Local News Network. I am Sadie Smith.