Vote Yes on 1A
to renew the Strong Future Initiative without raising taxes
The Strong Future Initiative funds crucial services in Summit County which include:
Vote Yes on 1A to renew the Strong Future Initiative
Wildfire Mitigation
Why do we need it? Helps pay for wildfire prevention efforts, including clearing brush near homes, improving access for firefighters, and educating the public.
Behavioral Health
Why do we need it? Funds mental health programs at different stages, including prevention services, crisis response, and promoting services across the county.
Recycling
Why do we need it? Invests in expanded waste reduction programs in Summit County, including adding new recycling centers and a free composting program.
Facility Maintenance
Why do we need it? Improves community facilities, including library expansions, emergency services and search and rescue buildings, and the Wildfire Nature School.
Early Childhood Care
Why do we need it? Includes tuition assistance to families for early childcare education, and provides teacher training and stipends for teacher retention.
What Will 1A Be Used For?
- Providing wildfire prevention and mitigation programs. VOTE YES for 1A!
- Improving mental health and substance abuse services and suicide prevention programs for Summit County children, youth, and adults. VOTE YES for 1A!
- Ensuring that recycling and other services that divert waste from landfills are available throughout the county. VOTE YES for 1A!
- Improving the quality and availability of early childhood care and learning for local families, including preschool programs for all four-year-olds so they are ready for school. VOTE YES for 1A!
- Extending the useful life and accessibility of public buildings and community facilities with necessary repairs and improvements. VOTE YES for 1A!
Why Do We Need It?
We MUST pass 1A because wildfire prevention, early childhood education, recycling, and mental health are all related to the future health and viability of our community.
- Many Summit County homes and infrastructure are in the wildland urban interface, and a massive expanse of dead and dying trees is right outside our back door. This great risk of wildfire requires Summit County to have the tools they need to best protect lives and property.
- Our families, friends, and neighbors who need it, have access to mental health and substance use services – for some, this is a matter of life and death.
- This proposal will enable local working families to afford quality, safe early childhood care and learning for their children, thus allowing families to live and work in their communities.
- Waste diversion is a vital strategy to protect Summit County’s local environment, conserve natural resources and extend the life of our local landfill.
- Repairs and improvements must be made to public buildings and facilities to extend their useful life, to save money over time, to protect past public investments, and to improve the accessibility of those facilities.
Wildfire Prevention
Reducing risk and protecting homes
- $1 million annually invested in wildfire mitigation resulting in safer neighborhoods and protection when we need it most
- 848 Acres treated across 72 projects
- Up to 100% cost coverage for wildfire mitigation and fuel reduction
- 16 major infrastructure projects funded
- Free curbside chipping for homeowners
Behavioral Health
Expanding access to mental health care
- $20M+ invested in mental health services
- 20+ Programs across 13 local organizations
- SMART program, Building Hope initiatives, and school-based care launched
- 4,400+ Building Hope mental health scholarships awarded
- 34,000+ hours of therapy delivered
Recycling & Waste
Reducing waste and extending landfill life
- 33% more recycling and compost is diverted from our landfill than in 2018
- $900,000 in grants awarded to residents and small businesses to support recycling
- New recycling centers opened in Silverthorne and at scrap
- Free composting program; 2M+ pounds diverted
Public Buildings & Facilities
Investing in essential community infrastructure
- Library renovations and expansions (Main & North)
- Emergency Services building construction and renovation
- State-of-the-art Search and Rescue facility constructed
- Wildflower Nature School construction
- Shooting Range noise mitigation
Early Childhood Education
Supporting families & strengthening care systems
- $15M in tuition credits for 1,400 families
- $4.4M invested in teacher training and retention
- 100 new childcare slots added
- 82% of funding goes directly to residents
What Will Appear On My Ballot?
Without increasing the current tax rate, shall Summit County be authorized to continue collecting, retaining, and spending revenues from the existing strong future fund to be used for providing wildfire prevention programs; improving mental health and substance abuse services and suicide prevention programs for Summit County youth and adults; ensuring that recycling and other services to divert waste from landfills are available throughout Summit County; extending the useful life and accessibility of public buildings and community facilities with necessary repairs and improvements; and improving the affordability and availability of quality early childhood care and learning for local Summit County families and workers, including offering voluntary preschool programs for four-year-olds so they are ready for school, with all expenditures made in consideration of citizen advisory committees’ recommendations and also subject to annual financial audit, and shall the revenues be collected and spent as a voter-approved revenue change without limitation or condition under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?
