WEEK OF APRIL 3, 2025
VOLUME 130 | ISSUE 5
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Elizabeth Fire makes case for sales tax Department faces increasing demand for its services as revenues decline BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
At the February meeting of the Elizabeth Fire District Board, the board decided to seek voter approval for a half-cent-per-dollar sales tax in the special district election coming up on May 6. The fire district currently depends on property tax revenues for funding and is asking voters to consider a sales tax, which is now an option after recent state legislation (SB24-194) was passed. The sales tax would apply to all purchases made within the fire district’s jurisdiction, except for items exempt from sales tax by law (some things like prescriptions, diapers, feminine products, and more are excluded). If passed, the tax is estimated to generate up to $1.2 million during the 2026 fiscal year. EFPD says they’ve lost some revenue as a result of changes to property valuations and state property tax laws. They hope a sales tax will allow the fire district to replace that revenue as well as offset the instability of revenue from property tax. According to a Feb. 28 press release, their property tax revenues decreased by 12% (equaling approximately $500,000) from 2024 to 2025. “The method they used to low-
Douglas County Community Resource Deputy Jeff Pelle suffered life-threatening injuries while in the line of duty in 2017 and received a massive blood transPHOTO BY HALEY LENA fusion in the hospital. When the sheriff’s office partnered with Vitalant, he knew he had to give back.
First responders bleed for their community Police take top spot in two-day Battle of the Badges blood drive
SEE SALES TAX, P12 BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITY
2025
VOTE NOW March 1st - April 15th
Whether they’re used for a surgery, severe injury, medical treatments or long-term health conditions, blood donations are vital for millions of people each and every day. “The truth of the matter is, despite all efforts that have gone into it, there really is no substitute for blood,” said Dr. Ben Usatch, emergency department medical director at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital. That’s why Vitalant, a nonprofit blood service provider, partnered with the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office, Castle Rock Fire
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17 | PUZZLES: 19
and Rescue, South Metro Fire Rescue and the Castle Rock, Lone Tree and Parker police departments to see if law enforcement or fire rescue could bring in the most units of blood for patients in need. It may have been team fire against team law at the Douglas County Fairgrounds and the Parker Field House on March 26 and 27, but those two days also drew over 100 community members to come together for a live-saving cause. For Sgt. Mark Mithuen, who has been with the sheriff ’s office since 2011 and oversees the school resource officers, giving blood is another way to help save a life.
“(Blood) is used to save lives and that’s what we do,” Mithuen said. There are three components to blood. Red cells carry oxygen throughout the body, platelets form clots to help stop bleeding and plasma helps the clot become more stable and provides antibodies for immunity. “All these things are incredibly important to the body’s ability to function,” Usatch said, adding that blood is broken down into these three components so doctors “are able to give patients what they need.” SEE BLOOD DRIVE, P6
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