Talk of a “vacancy tax” on property owners of second homes, vacation rentals and otherwise empty homes has grown in recent weeks. The Colorado Association of Ski Towns, which hosted a meeting at the Strater Hotel in Durango in August, is proposing legislation that would give towns and cities the ability to choose for themselves whether to tax second homeowners. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Talk of a “vacancy tax” on property owners of second homes, vacation rentals and otherwise empty homes has grown in recent weeks. The Colorado Association of Ski Towns, which hosted a meeting at the Strater Hotel in Durango in August, is proposing legislation that would give towns and cities the ability to choose for themselves whether to tax second homeowners. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)cca

The number of ballots cast ahead of Durango’s municipal election on Tuesday has more than doubled – from 9.5% to 21% – since the end of last week, according to the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder’s Office.

County Clerk Tiffany Lee said just under 3,000 voters had returned ballots as of Friday. Dozens of last-minute registrations have increased the total number of registered voters in Durango to 14,242 since March 20.

Voter information

Five candidates are vying for three seats on City Council. Voters will also have the chance to weigh in on Ballot Measure 2A, a question about reauthorizing a half-cent sales tax for 30 years, through 2056. Ballots were mailed to voters on March 10, and residents had until March 24 to register to vote or update their voter registration. La Plata County Clerk Tiffany Lee said ballots will be accepted through 7 p.m. Tuesday. There are five ballot drop-off locations across Durango:A drive-thru location at the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder’s Office at 679 Turner Drive, Suite C.County Administration Building at 1100 East Second Ave. Fort Lewis Community Concert Hall at 1000 Rim Drive. A drive-thru location at the La Plata County Fairgrounds at 2500 Main Ave. Durango City Hall at 949 East Second Ave., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Lee said she anticipates election results to be finalized by 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Election results

Election results will appear Tuesday night on The Durango Herald’s website, www.durangoherald.com. Results come in too late for Wednesday’s print edition, but full results will appear in Friday’s paper.

Voter turnout is about a third higher than it was at this point in the 2023 municipal election, when only 2,143 ballots had been returned as of March 28, she said.

Lee said turnout is tracking as expected, and she expects about 1,700 more ballots will be cast on Monday and Tuesday. She said it is typical for many voters to wait until just before election day to vote.

“Right on schedule. I don’t anticipate a huge push,” Lee said.

Five candidates, including two incumbents, are competing for three City Council seats. In ballot order, they are: Shirley Gonzales, Olivier Bosmans (incumbent), Kip Koso, Chris Elias and Jessika Buell (incumbent).

Voters will also decide Ballot Measure 2A, which asks whether to reauthorize a 2005 half-cent sales tax for 30 years, through 2056. The tax would fund capital projects – primarily a new joint city hall and police station – as well as the city’s acquisition, maintenance and upgrades to parks, trails and open spaces.

Voters have until 7 p.m. Tuesday to return their ballots.

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