The unofficial results of Tuesday’s election are in, with Town of Pagosa Springs voters voting in favor of a 1 percent sales tax rate increase for sewerage and wastewater reuse facilities beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
The following vote totals were accurate as of late Wednesday morning, Nov. 5.
Election results will remain unofficial until Nov. 26, which is the deadline for county canvass boards to complete the canvass and submit the official election abstract to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.
“The voters confirmed loud and clear that we need to fix our ailing sewer collection and forced main system and to provide a long-term solution,” Pagosa Springs Town Manager David Harris wrote in a statement to The SUN. “We appreciate those who understand the necessity of this system and how it relates to the economic vitality of our community and region.”
According to the ballot issue, the increase is to “construct, reconstruct, improve, repair, better, extend, operate and maintain sewerage and wastewater reuse facilities to serve the town, including facilities of the Pagosa Springs Sanitation General Improvement District.
The vote was limited to town residents, with 389 voting in favor of the increase and 120 voting against it.
State ballot measures
Only two ballot measures were voted on by the entirety of Archuleta County, with both being statewide ballot measures.
Proposition LL centered on keeping and spending all revenue generated by the 2022 voter-approved state tax deduction limits on individuals with incomes of $300,000 or more, and maintaining those deduction limits, to continue the Healthy School Meals for All program.
The program pays public schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all K-12 students.
Archuleta County voters aligned with the rest of the state, with 2,870, or 62.68 percent, voting in favor and 1,709, or 37.32 percent voting against it. Statewide, 64.66 percent of voters opted for the measure, with 35.34 percent voting against it.
Proposition MM centered on a proposed increase to state taxes of $95 million for school meals and school assistance programs by increasing state taxable income for those who have a federal taxable income of $300,000 or more by limiting itemized or standard state income deductions.
That, the question indicates, would be for the purposes of fully funding the Health School Meals for All program to provide free breakfast and lunch; increase wages for employees who prepare and serve school meals; help schools use “nutritious ingredients, instead of processed products and ensure that Colorado-grown and raised products are part of school meals; and support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Archuleta County voters again aligned with the rest of the state, with 2,638 voters, or 57.41 percent, voting in favor and 1,957, or 42.59 percent, voting against it. Statewide, 58.07 percent voted in favor and 41.93 percent voted against it.
School district offices
Voters within Bayfield School District 10 JT-R voted to elect three candidates to four-year terms on the board of directors: Rebecca Parnell, Matt Turner and Gary Maestas.
Parnell received 29.94 percent of the vote, including two votes from voters within Archuleta County; Turner earned 25.33 percent of the vote, including four votes from Archuleta County voters; and Maestas received 22.71 percent of the vote, including two votes from Archuleta County voters.
Robert Coronado Jr. received 22.02 percent of the vote, including four votes from within Archuleta County.
Voters within Ignacio School District 11JT voted in two candidates to serve four-year terms on the board of directors: James P. Bulwan and Leila C. Baker.
Bulwan received 39.81 percent of the vote, including 98 votes from within Archuleta County. Baker received 34.58 percent of the vote, including 89 votes from within Archuleta County.
Christine Sage received 25.62 percent of the vote, including 93 votes from Archuleta County voters.
Special district ballot measures
Voters in Colorado’s Timber Ridge Metropolitan District were asked to vote on Ballot Question 6A, which concerned eliminating term limits for board members and allowing board members to serve an unlimited number of consecutive terms.
The measure passed, with 64 voting in favor and 24 voting against it.
Upper Pine River Fire Protection District voters voted in favor of Ballot Issue 7B, which asked for the approval of a new 1 percent sales tax on transactions in that district.
Across the district, 57.61 percent of voters approved of the measure, including two votes from Archuleta County voters. A total of 42.39 percent voted against it, including one Archuleta County voter.
The ballot question indicates the revenue will go toward providing adequate staffing to address increasing emergency call volume, investing in training and staff retention, maintain fire and Emergency Medical Services equipment and vehicles to extend their useful lives and replace them when necessary, invest in updating firefighter safety gear and equipment, and improve and equip current and future fire stations to maintain response times.
Voter turnout
Archuleta County’s voter turnout largely mirrored the statewide number, with Archuleta County Clerk and Recorder Kristy Archuleta reporting a 35 percent turnout rate.
She notes in an email to The SUN the turnout “ is unfortunately average for a Coordinated Election.”
The state reports a 35.04 percent turnout statewide.
Archuleta also reports everything with the election went smoothly considering all the changes the office has faced recently.
“Everything went smooth considering we are trying to still adjust to our new office,” Archuleta wrote, noting the office received “a lot of” pushback from voters over confusion about the office’s location. “We tried to communicate frequently via the county website, social media, voicemail, signage (where we had access), our secrecy sleeve that was included in every ballot and as well as information in the Pagosa Sun.”
The office, now located at 305 Village Drive, was forced to relocate in June after an act of alleged arson closed the former office at 449 San Juan St.
“Next year, I hope to have to have a [24-hour dropbox] at the new location,” she notes. “We moved the one from the old courthouse to Town Hall so downtown voters would have access to turn their ballots in without having to come up to our office.”
Archuleta also noted she’s thankful for those who helped carry out the election.
“I am thankful for my staff, judges, IT, maintenance and anyone else that had a hand in the election,” she wrote.
Voters can fix signature, ID issues using Colorado BallotCure
According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, Colorado voters have until Nov. 12 to correct any signature or ID issue with their 2025 coordinated election ballot.
“Every voter who casts a ballot can ensure it is counted, even if it was first held for an ID or signature issue,” said Secretary Jena Griswold. “Colorado BallotCure gives Coloradans an additional tool to fix their ballot using a computer or smartphone.”
Voters whose ballots have been held for “cure,” or correction, will receive a notice from their county clerk and a message from BallotTrax if they are enrolled.
Colorado voters can correct these discrepancies by following the instructions received from the County, or by using Colorado BallotCure.
To use Colorado BallotCure:
• Visit www.GoVoteColorado.gov.
• Select “Cure my ballot.”
• Follow the prompts.
Colorado BallotCure is the second generation of electronic ballot curing previously called Txt2Cure.
Editor’s note: For transparency, SUN Editor Randi Pierce is related to Pagosa Springs Mayor Shari Pierce.
randi@pagosasun.com
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