November 3, 2026 Election
Fire Station Meeting- Zoom recording below.
How much will this cost me?
What will the ballot question look like?
Official State Contract for Grant
Writing & Technical Assistance
Roadway Improvements Needed
What some of our roads need.....
Questions & Answers
This is an ongoing list of questions we're adding as we hear from residents. Please feel to add any questions that are not already answered below.
Q: I pay $215 in fees each month. Where is my money going?
A: Major road repairs such as overlays, curbs, and base would cost far more than fees could possibly cover, the District has never charged high enough fees to fully fund rebuilding roads. The district has 3 1/2 main operating funds: General, Sewer, Water, and the Sewer Treatment Plant we share with DW2. The general fund handles all the roads and governmental assets. Most of the money in general pays for wages/benefits, common areas, the office software, and professionals. As you can see in 25/26 a lot of money was spent in "common areas"- which includes our new playground. In the sewer fund most of the money is spent for treatment fees and personnel. In the water fund you can see half of the moneys goes to purchased water from Lake Durango. All three funds share the expense for our staff and seasonal help.
Q: Why don't we have enough money in reserves to pay for roads?
A: The general fund does not hold a lot of reserves because general fund capitol improvement projects are supposed to be funded by taxes, not fees. The hard truth is that Durango West either needs to do a bond every 20 years or so, or it needs to increase fees to collect about an extra $100,000 each year to replace what a tax bond does about every 20 years. Tax bonds are tax deductible for many residents.
Q: I heard the district recently built houses and bought lots. Where is that money?
A: Yes that is true, two new homes were built and sold in 2024. They were a great project to help us replenish reserves while improving the neighborhood. With building costs and the cost of the lots the district netted $140,00 on both homes combined, not each home. Unfortunately when you're looking at 2M dollars in road repairs, $140K doesn't get us very far. We chose to keep some in cash reserves and invest some into the new playground.
Q: What if I want to know more and dig deeper into financials?
A: Please email the board or district manager directly and we will be happy to set up an appointment for you to visit with our accountant. We're happy to answer any questions to help clarify.
Q: What does this tax bond mean?
A: It’s asking for authorization for property tax. Roads are paid for by some method of taxation – that’s the way our governments are set up nationwide, statewide, and locally.
Q: Where/How do I find my home's assessed value through La Plata County- Eagle Web?
A: Click this link and type in your name or address then hit search.
Q: What will my tax statement on Eagle Web look like?
A: Click Here for an example of what your tax bill will look like.
Q: All this talk about infrastructure, has the board been working on our covenants?
A: Yes we have! Please read through our "Covenants & Rules" page for an update where they stand.
NEW Questions Posted as of 9/23/26
Q: How Long does the Tax Increase Last? Does it End?
All Debt Purpose Tax Increases must end when the debt is paid – but may not be extended longer than 20 years, per state statutes. It depends what the district decides to borrow under what loan terms, could be 10/15/20 years. Also this tax increase wouldn't start until the districts finds the best loan possible and locks it in, could be 2027/28/29?
Q: What is actually going to be proposed for approval? Are you asking residents to approve the bond as well as a monthly fee increase? What happens if the bond doesn't get approved?
The ballot question is what we're asking for. A maximum of $2M with a maximum interest rate of 6%. The length of time allowed for government debt is 20 years. However, please read more about how we are looking for lower rates and grants. The ballot question allows the district to increase revenues with a property tax, fees, or assessments. This means we could do one or a combination of the three. Lenders generally prefer property taxes as security but fees are also acceptable. If the bond does not pass, the board is likely going to listen to the neighborhood who has spoken and said they don't want to pay for roads. Road improvements will be differed until residents decide they will support it. The district cannot borrow money for roads without voter approval.
Q: Does Dw1 have a formal road maintenance policy?
Not currently. DW1 has performed road maintenance and has records of major road work and professional road assessments, but we have not had a formal policy establishing a regular schedule for preventative road maintenance. We agree that a formal road maintenance policy should be adopted.
Q: Why Haven't we Done more Road Maintenance all these Years?
The primary reason has been money. Historically, DW1’s road maintenance has been limited by available funding and years of operating in crisis or survival mode. With limited resources, immediate needs often took priority over preventative road maintenance. As a result, major road work and professional assessments have generally occurred at intervals of 10–20 years rather than as part of a consistent maintenance cycle. Going forward, we believe a more proactive approach makes sense. Similar to our sewer maintenance program, roads could be divided into three or four sections, with one section receiving preventative maintenance each year. Regular crack filling, sealing where appropriate, and coordination with water and sewer projects could help extend the life of our roads and reduce the amount of major rehabilitation needed in the future. DW1 has also explored purchasing its own crack-filling equipment, which appears affordable. The biggest remaining challenge is labor, but establishing a small seasonal crew may be a practical option.
Q: I heard Property Taxes Could Go up 60% - is this True?
Although this is very close to true, it is not an easy question to answer given the diversity of home values in our neighborhood. We have homes that value in the $700,000 range and some that don't actually pay a property tax (un-purged mobile homes) The maximum was about 58% when the first spreadsheet was prepared, and as reflected, is now closer to 55%. This is the maximum amount of increase after the loan was lowered to 2.0 million, which changed the initial calculation from 31.0 mills to 28.5 mills. Both of these mills reflected a loan with the highest annual payment during the life of the loan and at the highest interest rate. Both mills were rounded up in order not to under-estimate or mislead, and to keep the math easier to trace back to the tax bill that was paid in 2026 for each property within Dw1.
Q: Will Any Water or Sewer Infrastructure Be Replaced If Roads Are Dug Up?
Yes, where appropriate. In areas requiring new road base, valves will be repaired, mains visually inspected, and spot assessments performed. Priority will be given to ensuring working isolation valves and evaluating mainline joints, particularly infrastructure serving fire hydrants, some of which also need updates. Our goal is to coordinate as much water and sewer work as practical with the road project. However, funding must remain separate—road funds cannot pay for water or sewer improvements, and those costs are not included in the road bids. We will pursue state capital replacement funds and grants for eligible infrastructure that has reached the end of its useful life. A professional water expert is helping DW1 identify available state resources and plan cost-effective infrastructure improvements for the coming decades.
Q: Does Construction Need to Be Completed All at Once?
No. The work can be completed in phases and may involve different contractors based on the type of work and equipment needed. The project also does not have to be completed in one year. The District could use two or three smaller loans so interest is not paid on funds before they are needed. However, phasing the work does not extend the repayment period. The authorization begins in fiscal year 2027 and is available for up to five years, but all borrowing must still be repaid within the voter-authorized 20-year period, ending no later than 2047.
Q: What if I Have a Property Tax Exemption Now? In the Future?
Homeowners who currently have property tax exemptions, or who will be eligible for exemptions in the future, will keep them. This ballot question does impact everyone’s property tax bill. It does not change anyone’s tax exemptions. Property tax exemptions are part of the laws and the Colorado Constitution.
Q: How is the Tax Ballot Question Written?
The Durango West Ballot Question Must Include 3 Things: a)Legal language. include all the TABOR language (explains why the question you see is written as one long run-on sentence). TABOR is Colorado’s taxpayer bill of rights law (t.a.b.o.r.) requires extra disclosures for taxpayers. It ensures taxpayers are fully aware of the “maximum” amounts. Attorneys also “pad” the TABOR language to ensure no annual debt amounts are under-estimated to ensure the lender is also protected. Lenders rely on legal opinions of TABOR compliance and are careful their lending terms are within compliance. b)Maximum Dollars. The loan or bond asks voters to authorize a maximum dollar amount—$225,000 per year—not a mill levy. This figure is higher than what’s needed for a standard $2 million loan at 6% over 20 years, allowing flexibility for possible fees or financing options. Legal counsel set this maximum to cover any debt-related expenses that might arise, but it is not the expected annual payment. The District can only use up to this amount in any one year for debt service, ensuring flexibility without overcommitting funds. c)Maximum Interest Rate. The loan must disclose the maximum interest rate. We are guessing 6% if rates increase . The District is tax exempt allowing lower rates than the consumer market. The Board does not want to borrow funds at terms that are not in the best interest of residents. We have found better loans and terms but until voters approve taking on debt for road repairs we are unable to submit formal applications and lock in rates.