Moving Gunnison
County Forward.
Ballot Measure 1A is a 0.50% sales tax dedicated entirely to roads and bridges — closing a $38 million maintenance backlog without a new property tax. Every dollar is tracked and reported.
One county, every season
419 miles, in every kind of weather
From summer wildflowers to winter switchbacks, these are the roads 1A helps provide safe access and connection.
The problem
Our roads are aging faster than we can fund them.
The county's purchasing power for road maintenance has fallen roughly 25% since the pandemic, even as the backlog has grown to $38 million.
A $38 million backlog
A 2025 independent engineering assessment found just 36% of county roads in good condition, with multiple bridges rated poor or fair and deterioration accelerating without intervention.
Funding hasn't kept pace
The county's main road fund, the Highway User Tax Fund, has stayed roughly flat since the 1990s while construction, materials, and labor costs have climbed sharply — especially since the pandemic.
Residents are already paying
Washboarding and potholes are costing drivers an estimated $800 a year in extra vehicle wear — on top of the risk to school buses, cyclists, and emergency response times.
Where it goes
Every dollar, dedicated by law
The county maintains 419 miles of road and 48 bridges — 70% of that network unpaved. 1A revenue goes into a separate fund, spent only on roads and bridges, and reported to the public each year.
The county's full road network and current pavement condition — from very poor to very good. This is the network 1A funding is dedicated to maintaining and improving.
What it costs you
50 cents on a $100 purchase
1A is a consumption tax — you pay it when you spend, not on your home's assessed value.
A modest ask for a big backlog
For a household spending roughly $2,000/month on taxable goods, 1A costs about $10 a month — a fraction of the $800 a year Gunnisonians are already losing to pothole damage and premature vehicle wear on the roads we drive today.
See the full ballot language| Purchase | Added under 1A | |
|---|---|---|
| Tank of gas ($55) | +$0.28 | |
| Dinner out at a local restaurant ($75) | +$0.38 | |
| Oil change for the truck ($90) | +$0.45 | |
| New pair of skis ($600) | +$3.00 | |
| Average monthly spend ($2,000) | +$10.00 |
Questions
Straight answers
Want more detail?
Visit Gunnison County Roads & Bridges for a full project breakdownIs this a property tax increase?
No. State law doesn't allow counties to fund road maintenance through property tax without specific voter approval. 1A is strictly a sales tax added at the point of purchase on taxable goods and does not change property tax mill levies.
Can the county spend this money on anything else?
No. State law and the ballot language restrict 1A revenue to road and bridge maintenance, resurfacing, plowing, and related equipment. It cannot be redirected to the general fund.
Doesn't the county already have a sales tax for this?
Gunnison County's existing sales tax, approved in 1978, is legally restricted to capital projects and cannot fund ongoing maintenance — which is where the greatest need is. 1A closes that gap.
How will I know the money is being spent well?
The Road & Bridge Division will report project-by-project spending on the county website.
When do I vote?
Ballots go out in mid-October ahead of the November election. Registered Gunnison County voters can return ballots by mail or at any county drop box through Election Day.
Chip in
Fund the final push
Every dollar goes toward yard signs, canvassing materials, and getting voters the facts before ballots go out.