November 2025 Election FAQs and Community Survey Results

Eligible electors will receive ballots. It is independent of tap holding status.

An eligible elector for a special district election is a person who is registered to vote in the State of Colorado and is either:

• A resident within the district boundaries or area to be included within the district boundaries on Election Day; or
• The owner (or the spouse or civil union partner of the owner) of taxable real or personal property situated within the district boundaries.

People who own real property that is included in the District but are not served will receive ballots.

People who are registered to vote at a property that is included in the District (whether they own the property or not) will receive ballots.

Someone who lives at or owns a property that is served by the District, but not included, will not receive a ballot.

Eligibility to vote is independent of tap holding status. Taps are considered personal property, but they are not “taxable personal property” under the pertinent statutes and ownership of one does not make the holder eligible to vote. Therefore, those who own a tap but do not own real property in the District are not eligible to vote.

This ballot issue will only affect property taxes, so only people who own property that is included in the District will see a change in taxes.

The election is coordinated with Jefferson County and there are other jurisdictions holding elections; it is likely that every voter in Jefferson County will receive a ballot. Only Lookout Mountain Water District eligible electors will receive ballots containing the LMWD ballot issue.

The average amount of tax increase will be $325/year. This amount will vary depending upon property valuation.

The tax is tied to the annual payments to repay the new loan, which will be repaid over a maximum of 30 years. After the debt is fully repaid, the tax will end.

Updated Map of Overall Plan Phases

The demographic questions were to ensure we received representative responses. All information is anonymous and confidential.

24 years ago, LMWD agreed to provide potable water that could be used for firefighting at the new Clear Creek High School/Middle School. The school most likely would not have been built in that location without that agreement. LMWD had lost some commercial customers and felt this was a good step to ensure solid revenue from water sales. Clear Creek High School is a short distance from our main line and water treatment plant and is one of our largest customers. LMWD and all our tap holders benefit from this relationship.  LMWD is trying to work with the school district to continue to meet their potable water and firefighting requirements.

After completing Phase 1, the mainline pipes will not be large enough to provide adequate fire flow to the school campus from LMWD’s 1,000,000-gallon tank; however, reducing the pipe size to 8” and slip-lining the new pipe through the old pipe allows LMWD to save millions of dollars on the project. A new water storage tank will be needed at the school to meet the required fire flow. LMWD is negotiating and working with Clear Creek County Schools to resolve this issue and based on an existing agreement with the school, the costs to LMWD should be minimal, if any. Please check the LMWD website for updates.

Eastern sections of our mainline distribution system (Lookout Mountain and the Avery lateral) will not be impacted because the million-gallon storage tank on the hill above the Bergen Park Walmart will continue to provide the same fire flow and line pressure we currently have. Clear Creek High School will require a new water storage tank to provide adequate fire flow (See question 2 above).

Some questions have been raised on the survey about PVC pipe.  The design engineers will recommend the best pipe for the long term to meet cost, fire flow, water quality, and strength requirements. The PVC pipe we anticipate will be specified is NIST-certified and very commonly used in drinking water distribution systems. This type of pipe is not manufactured with any PFAS. Any PFAS issues would have to be introduced into the system from outside sources. However, we will continue to ask questions of the engineers and state regulators to ensure long-term water quality is not compromised.

The District is attempting to balance the use of property taxes, which can be used as an income tax deduction, and other revenue sources which are applied equally to all water users.  LMWD expects to continue to increase water rates and the capital charge, mainly to generate capital to help pay for these needed projects.  We understand the individual water users will have different preferences. Hopefully, by taking a balanced approach, the burden of these costs will be fairer to various water users in the District.

In addition, LMWD will continue to hunt for grants and other assistance to lessen the cost burden of these projects on our community.