A property-tax increase for the Peyton Fire Protection District has officially passed, squeaking by with just 21 more yes votes than no votes in the Friday tally. The razor-thin result, 1,129 votes in favor, came after officials folded in corrected ballots that had initially been rejected over a signature discrepancy, along with outstanding ballots from military and overseas voters.
A Margin Too Wide for a Recount, Too Narrow to Feel Settled
The measure was outside the margin for an automatic recount under state rules, according to The Gazette. On the previous Wednesday, the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s office had counted 1,018 votes in support and 1,000 against; later ballot processing widened the gap.
District board president David Rolenc said he was relieved the measure cleared the finish line. “We are definitely pleased it went through,” he said, thanking the community for its support. He also acknowledged just how close the vote really was, noting that the question clearly split the rural community.
What the New Revenue Is Supposed to Buy
Issue 6A will raise district taxes by $327,903 annually through an additional 4.85 mills, beginning January 1, 2027, according to election results posted by KKTV. The same report estimated the increase at about $132 a year for a $400,000 home and roughly $247 for a $750,000 home.
Rolenc said the revenue is expected to begin coming in around the middle of next year, generating about $327,903 in its first year. The district plans to use the money for additional paid staff and vehicle and building maintenance. It serves 110 square miles from a single aging station on Railroad Street, just off Highway 24 northeast of Colorado Springs.
What Voters Approved—and What the Plan Aims to Address
El Paso County’s official election pamphlet listed fire protection, ambulance and emergency medical and paramedic response, rescue, safety and support services among the stated purposes of Issue 6A. The district’s specific spending priorities remain to be decided by its board and chief. Before the vote, a May 2024 report by The Gazette described the district as having 17 volunteers and one full-time deputy chief while serving upward of 1,440 households. The five-year plan discussed in that report aimed to reduce response times through added stations and emergency medical services; those are stated goals, not a guarantee of a particular response-time improvement.
Medical Calls Dominate, and EMTs Are a Priority
The district handled 550 calls last year, 57% of them medical emergencies rather than fires. Rolenc said additional EMTs are among the possible investments to address those needs; the board and chief are to set specific priorities in the coming months.
Rolenc also said the district operates with tight fiscal management and had one of the region's lowest property tax rates before the measure passed, according to district data cited in the same report. He added that the district hopes the community will recognize the value it provides.
A Possible Second Station on Donated Land
The district also expects to pursue a station east of Sweet and Bradshaw Roads on donated land. Rolenc said it would likely be a small facility for storing district vehicles, rather than a full-scale staffed station.
A 2024 report by The Gazette described a five-year district plan aimed at reducing response times by adding stations and bringing emergency medical services within the district. It outlined a proposed unmanned station in the northeast, with space for fire apparatus and a 30,000-gallon underground cistern. The proposal and its stated aims do not establish a guaranteed response-time outcome. Separately, a district budget breakdown posted by KRDO showed fiscal-year spending rising from $192,922 in 2022 to an estimated $469,515 in 2026, an overall increase of 243%.
