Yampa Valley voters approved all initiatives on the 2025 ballot, including a measure that will form the Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority, according to unofficial results reported Tuesday evening.

Updated unofficial results were released shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday. For all updated results, go to SteamboatPilot.com.

Ballot Measure 1A: Formation of the Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority — Approved county-wide

Regional results:

• Routt County — 78.31%, 2,817 total votes
• Hayden — 68.79%, 346 total votes
• Oak Creek — 84.66%, 189 total votes
• Yampa — 55.83%, 189 total votes
• Craig — 69.25%, 1,486 total votes

Steamboat, unincorporated Routt County, Hayden, Oak Creek, Yampa and Craig voters approved the formation of the Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority, which aims to connect communities across the valley through expanded public transit options.

“It’s fantastic that we would all bind together and become the unity of the whole valley,” said Steamboat Springs Council Member Michael Buccino on Tuesday evening. “This is really the beginning of a fellowship between Craig, Oak Creek, Phippsburg, Yampa and everywhere. I’m just excited about it.”

A top objective is the introduction of fixed-route bus service on Colorado Highway 131 between Steamboat, Oak Creek and Yampa. 

Plans also include establishing a new local circulator bus route within Craig, ground transportation options to and from the Yampa Valley Regional Airport and creating park-and-ride lots for commuters accessing both the U.S. Highway 40 bus route and other new routes.

Although a tax measure could appear on future ballots for jurisdictions that approve the RTA’s formation, Tuesday’s ballot initiative did not ask for voter funding.

“I’m looking forward to getting started with forming the board of the RTA in January, which will be one elected official from each of the jurisdictions,” continued Buccino.

Routt County ballot measure 1B: Lodging excise tax — Approved: 56.10%, 3,121 total votes

Voters in unincorporated Routt County, Oak Creek and Yampa voted to approve a ballot measure that will impose a 6% lodging tax levied on rentals of fewer than 30 consecutive days, such as hotels and motels, short-term rentals, bed-and-breakfasts, private campgrounds and RV/trailer parks not located on public lands, and timeshares, among other temporary accommodations.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the voters around the county for understanding that we need to make sure that visitation pays its way and that we can appropriately offset the impacts,” said Routt County Commissioner Sonja Macys in reaction to the unofficial results. “We will reinvest dollars from those lodging taxes into public safety infrastructure and things that improve the lives of Routt County residents.”

The proposed tax will not apply to Steamboat and Hayden, which already have implemented voter-approved short-term lodging taxes.

The tax is anticipated to generate around $821,000 per year in revenue. State law requires that 10% of collected revenue must be dedicated to tourism advertising and marketing, which commissioners have considered using to support destination stewardship efforts.

The remaining 90% of the yearly funds will be directed toward community needs such as infrastructure improvements and enhancing public safety through local police, fire personnel and emergency medical services.

Ballot measure 5A: South Routt School District tax extension — Approved: 79.55%, 983 total votes

South Routt School District voters approved a ballot measure that asked to renew and slightly adjust the district’s existing mill levy override originally approved in 2014, which funds competitive salaries for teachers and support staff. 

The measure will not the current tax rate of 2.603 mills but extends the funding to sustain roughly $355,000 annually, intended to help retain quality educators without increasing the tax burden on homeowners.

Ballot measure 6A: South Routt Medical District tax increase — Approved: 60.95%, 1,247 total votes

Voters within the South Routt Medical District, which follows the boundaries of the South Routt School District, approved a ballot measure that will increase the South Routt Medical Center’s ad valorem (according to value) property tax rate by 1.305 mills, which would raise the rate from 4.095 to 5.400 mills.

The increase will boost revenue by roughly $175,071 per year starting in 2026. The funds will support the medical center’s operations and core services, including primary care, behavioral health, urgent care, lab services and telehealth.

Colorado Mountain College ballot measure 7C: Waiving of property tax limit — Approved: 80.70%, 5,667 total votes

Voters in the local college district approved a ballot measure to restore Colorado Mountain College’s authority to waive a state-imposed 5.25% property tax revenue cap for a period of 10 years. This measure is not a new tax but reinstates funding flexibility previously approved by voters in 2018, which was limited by recent state legislation.

The restored authority will help CMC’s continued investment in critical programs such as skilled trades training (including automotive, welding and construction), nursing and first responder education, and housing solutions aimed at retaining local talent.

Steamboat Pilot & Today reporter Julia Coccaro contributed to this article.