Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority

Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Sales Tax

New tax or feeNew sales tax

Adds a 0.5% sales tax for regional transportation from January 1, 2027, with a stated $7,875,197 in the first full fiscal year, authority for higher later collections and no end date.

Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority

Kim's Recommendation

Vote No on Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority Ballot Issue 7A

The rail purpose concerns me most. Under it, the authority takes part in regional planning for commuter rail among Craig, Hayden, Steamboat Springs, Oak Creek and Yampa, and the question states no cost, route or timetable for that line. It assigns no share of the revenue to rail or to any other purpose, so I cannot tell voters how much of this tax goes to that planning. The tax has no end date, and approval would let the authority retain all revenue from this tax, even above TABOR's annual limits. I want the cost of commuter rail in front of voters before a permanent sales tax pays to plan it.

I recommend a no vote on Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority Ballot Issue 7A.

Kim Monson

Host, The Kim Monson Show · President, Colorado Union of Taxpayers · Colorado Voter's Guide 2026

Certified ballot question

SHALL YAMPA VALLEY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (RTA) TAXES BE INCREASED BY $7,875,197.00 ANNUALLY, BEGINNING IN THE FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR, AND BY WHATEVER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, BY IMPOSING, BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027, A SALES TAX AT A RATE OF ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT, EQUIVALENT TO FIFTY CENTS ON EACH ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF TAXABLE PURCHASES, UPON EVERY TRANSACTION OR OTHER INCIDENT WITH RESPECT TO WHICH A SALES TAX IS LEVIED BY THE STATE, SUBJECT TO THE SAME EXEMPTIONS THAT APPLY TO THE STATE SALES TAX, FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: • ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY ON HIGHWAY 40, DECREASING THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS, AND PROVIDING SAFER ALTERNATIVES FOR RESIDENTS AND WORKERS TRAVELING BETWEEN COMMUNITIES • IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR LOCAL WORKERS, RESIDENTS, SENIORS, AND VISITORS ACROSS THE YAMPA VALLEY • PARTICIPATING IN REGIONAL PLANNING FOR FUTURE COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE BETWEEN CRAIG, HAYDEN, STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, OAK CREEK, AND YAMPA • PROVIDING AFFORDABLE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS TO AREAS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY SERVED BY TRANSIT AND SHALL THE YAMPA VALLEY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (RTA) BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT, RETAIN, AND SPEND ALL REVENUES FROM SUCH TAX AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE ABOVE THE ANNUAL LIMITS OF ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION?

A yes vote means

The authority could impose the 0.5% sales tax for the listed transportation purposes and retain all resulting revenue above TABOR’s annual limits.

A no vote means

This question would not authorize the transportation sales tax.

A Regional Tax on Purchases01

Starting January 1, 2027, the Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority imposes a sales tax of one-half of one percent on taxable purchases if voters approve Ballot Issue 7A. As an example, at one-half of one percent, $100 of taxable purchases within the authority's boundaries adds 50 cents. The tax applies to every transaction the state taxes, with the same exemptions as the state sales tax. It has no end date.

The Proposed Transportation Tax

The new tax would add 0.5% to taxable purchases.

A $100 taxable purchase

$100 × 0.5% = $0.50 in transportation sales tax.

The tax uses the state sales tax’s transactions and exemptions. This shows only the proposed transportation tax, not other sales taxes. Enter the taxable amount before tax.

Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority Ballot Issue 7A: one-half of one percent.

The Authority's First Year02

In July 2026, the Steamboat Pilot & Today reported that voters had approved the authority the previous November and that the authority was working toward regional bus service for residents valleywide. The newspaper reported that Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. made a $500,000 payment to the authority in late April and was expected to deliver a second $500,000 installment by August 1, fulfilling a $1 million annual commitment for the authority's first year.

The Tax and the Revenue Limit03

The $7,875,197 increase the question states is for the first full fiscal year; in later years the tax can raise more as collections grow. The authority may keep and spend all revenue from the tax, including amounts above the annual limits of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR), Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution.

Four Purposes for the Money04

The first purpose is enhancing public safety on Highway 40, decreasing the risk of accidents and providing safer alternatives for residents and workers traveling between communities. The second is improving transportation options for local workers, residents, seniors and visitors across the Yampa Valley. The third is participating in regional planning for future commuter rail service between Craig, Hayden, Steamboat Springs, Oak Creek and Yampa. The fourth is providing affordable regional transportation options to areas not currently served by transit.

The question names no projects, routes, schedules or service levels and assigns no share of the revenue to any one purpose.

Planning for Future Commuter Rail05

For the rail purpose, the question states no cost, route or timetable for a commuter line.

Two Sales Tax Questions in Oak Creek06

Oak Creek's ballot carries 7A and Town of Oak Creek Ballot Issue 2A, a town sales tax increase for capital improvements.

Sources07

Official documents

Routt County sample ballot, Style 3, page 2 — November 3, 2026 election