Did you know Keystone voted to become a town? What does this mean, and what happens next? Read on. . .
#1 Why Become a Town?
Keystone has a full-time population with over 912 active voters, which is higher than the Town of Dillon! How will “incorporating” as a town benefit them?
- They have a full-time population with over 912 active voters, which is higher than the Town of Dillon! How will “incorporating” as a town benefit them?
Greater access to grant funding that will help address traffic/safety/maintenance issues on US-6. As town they can maintain twice as many roads in Winter. - Public Safety! As a Town, Keystone can have law enforcement support 24/7- this means faster response time (which is currently at an average of 30+ minutes) and visible police presence during peak seasons and events.
- Opportunity to address community needs right at the community level. The County has limited resources to support Keystone in the ways it needs. As a town, they can work on a micro level on improving parking/transportation, zoning, managing trails/open space, and community resources like workforce housing, childcare centers, etc.
- Keep the revenue previously generated for the County for themselves without having to raise taxes, while still having a surplus of funds. This one is pretty self-explanatory… they foresee being financially stable as an independent Town! Check out their feasibility studies HERE if you’re interested!
#2 How Did Citizens Accomplish This?
Community members banded together and did a ton of research, planning, studies, and surveys to get the ball rolling. They put out literature and held events to address any voter concerns, promoted their cause heavily, and were able to make things happen! 431 ballots were cast on 3/28- 67% of those voted YES to incorporate, and 73% voted YES to become a Home Rule Town- this will give Keystone’s Citizens control over town government and the ability to come up with solutions that work for them locally.
#3 What Happens Next?
With town status now secured, Keystone is poised to take its place as one of the most sought-after destinations in the Rocky Mountains. The town is already known for its world-class skiing and snowboarding, but this new status will allow Keystone to invest in infrastructure and amenities that will make it an even more attractive destination for visitors.
If you’d like to learn more, email us at Team@COMtnRealty.com – thanks!