Election 2019

Aspen Public Radio is your source for in-depth coverage of local and state issues this election season. Voters will see two state-wide initiatives: Proposition CC, which removes revenue limits put in place by the TABOR amendment, and Proposition DD, which takes sports-betting revenues to fund water initiatives. Locally, Basalt residents decide on the town's property tax rate, the Roaring Fork and Aspen School Districts both select new school board members and initiatives to tax tobacco products appear on ballots throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. Ballots are due on November 5. Listen to Aspen Public Radio and check our website and social media for analysis and election results.

Cigarette And Tobacco Taxes Approved

Aspen Public Radio

Published November 5, 2019 at 10:32 PM MST

Voters throughout the Roaring Fork Valley overwhelmingly approved cigarette and tobacco taxes Tuesday.

Pitkin County and Eagle County approved an eventual 4 dollars-a-pack tax on cigarettes and a 40% tax increase on tobacco products. The city of Glenwood Springs voted to do the same thing. Pitkin County Board of Commissioners Chairman Greg Poschman said he was surprised that all the tobacco taxes in the area passed by such wide margins.

“This tells me we’re all on the right track and that the region is going to be working together," said Poschman. "I don’t think any of our communities in this region like being the area with the highest incidence of vaping and nicotine use.”

Money raised by all the cigarette and tobacco taxes will be used to help fund tobacco cessation programs, education to prevent smoking and other mental health programs.