Home Ballot measures Local ballot measures Crested Butte, 2026
Local ballot measures · Crested Butte · 2026
Crested Butte voters back a tax on non-primary homes
Our June 2026 poll for the Town of Crested Butte found 66% of likely voters supported an annual tax on homes that are not a primary residence, and support rose to 68% after voters heard arguments for and against. The Town Council sent a tax on non-primary homes and vacant lots to the November 3, 2026 ballot.
“It’s not often we see such high intensity support in such a poll.”
What else the poll found
- Intensity. Half of voters said “definitely yes” on the first ask, rising to 55% after arguments.
- A smaller version. At about $2,300 per home, raising $1 million, 51% said they would be more likely to support it and 41% less likely.
- Exemptions. 69% preferred applying the tax equally to all non-primary homes over exempting homes held in a family for 25 years or more (29%).
- The transfer tax. 58% supported reallocating the town’s real estate transfer tax among capital projects, open space, and affordable housing.
- Priorities. 72% would rather maintain existing services and facilities than add new ones.
On the ballot
In August 2026 the Town Council voted 5–2 to put a graduated tax on non-primary homes and vacant lots on the November 3 ballot, with revenue earmarked for capital projects. We will post the result here next to the poll after the election.
Polling a town of this size
The poll was built to answer the Council’s decision: whether the tax was clearly ahead, at what amount, and with which exemptions. At 66% on the first ask it was ahead by more than the margin.
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