Nice warm Indian summer evening, this election night of November 7, 2023. A Gilpin County Mail Processing Judge brings in the last ballots from the drop boxes. The Judge sits down with ballots in hand and verifies the signatures on each envelope. Another judge then opens and sorts the ballots into batches for counting by the ballot counting machine.

The counting has been going on since October 30 in the Old Courthouse at 203 Eureka Street in Central City. The Old Courthouse Polling Center has just closed at 7 p.m., and preliminary results will be reported later this evening. Many await the fate of Gilpin County’s Parks and Recreation Department along with its community center, barn and ballfields.

Ballot 1A in each one of those envelopes says “… Gilpin County Taxes be Increased …” and opponents have latched onto this. They have placed bright red signs with white letters throughout the county that shout “No New Taxes.” Maybe Gilpin’s version of a red scare.

Though Ballot 1A says the proposed 2.57 mill levy is an increase, there currently is already a 2.57 mill levy financing Parks and Recreation, and if Ballot 1A passes there will still be a 2.57 mill levy in effect. No change; no increase in taxes. If anything, should Ballot 1A fail it will result in a tax reduction.

Why the ballot wording? One can only speculate. On this lovely evening the commissioners aren’t saying. It may have been more effective to have said “Yes Tax Reduction.” Always better to state things in a positive way. People like that. Either way, understand that what is really being said is “NO to Gilpin Parks and Recreation and the Community Center and the County’s vital services it provides that impact children, families, adults, seniors and county employees.”

As the sunset colors fade, another election judge steps up to the counting machine, takes a batch of ballots and places it in the machine’s hopper. Proponents are figuratively holding their collective breath for a community center which has been growing and innovating since its closure in 2019 due to Covid.

Check-ins at the Community Center grew from 8,500 at the beginning of 2022 to 10,500 at the end of June, 2023. Currently 55% of county residents use the facility. Plus, approximately 1,500 check-ins to the Community Center are from outside the county. Innovations cover insurance programs such as Silver Sneakers, the Eagle Teen program dedicated to out-of-school extracurricular activities, and grants won for substance abuse and childcare programs.

“Everyone ready?” the judge asks, and with agreement the judge hits a switch, and the counting machine comes to life and hums to itself as if it already knows the outcome.

The fate of Parks and Recreation, along with the Community Center, Barn and ballfields, has been tentative for a while due to budget challenges. It took Gaming revenue eight years to recover from the Great Recession of 2008. It was not until 2016 that Gaming revenue surpassed pre-recession levels. During that time, expenditure and County revenue stayed the same. Needed capital expenditures were delayed due to budget constraints.

Four years later, Covid hit, and Gaming revenue dropped $5 million in 2020 and was still a million dollars lower in 2021 than in pre-Covid 2019. Gaming revenue has proven to be volatile. Unpredictable, and impacted by economic downturns. Over the last decade Gaming revenue has fluctuated from 31% (2020 Covid year) of the County’s total revenue stream to 49% of the revenue stream.

Parks and Recreation is a function not required by state law, as is the Sheriff’s office, for example. The only way the County could see to save Parks and Recreation in 2020 was through a mill levy and this is still the proposed path forward. Revenue from mill levies provides a steady income stream that is not affected by economic downturns.

The machine starts counting the final ballots. A steady click, click, click of each ballot like a drum roll is heard. No applause from the small audience of election judges as the drum roll reaches its conclusion. What will be the judgment? As the plaque says in the lobby of the Community Center: “Envisioned by … Built for … Dedicated to … The People of Gilpin County.” Quite a tribute.

To think that it was the parents of kids playing ball in an empty lot above Central City in the 1980s that gave birth to Parks and Recreation and the Community Center. They had only hoped for a ballfield, and look at what the residents of Gilpin County gave to them and themselves: aquatics, health classes, fitness programs, indoor track, dance studio, basketball courts, ballfields, fitness equipment. Annual events: County Fair, Winter Arts Festival, Easter Egg hunts, Father-Daughter Dance and Dive. Mom and Son Nerf War. Childcare, senior lunches, and fitness classes.

Let’s not forget what could be life saving in the future – emergency and crisis shelter for families and children in case of fire or a school shooting. Shelter for animals if needed. It is not and has never been as “simple” as a “No New Taxes” vote.

The judges are now finishing the tallies for the election and getting ready to report to the state and provide a preliminary report to the County. The County Clerk reviews the results of the election; her eyes scan to the mill levy results – a sigh escapes her lips.

Has the County decided to continue the vision that they dedicated themselves to and built twenty years ago? One of family values, community support, and a place to celebrate who we are as community? Or will folks be fine with Gilpin known only for its gambling, gentleman’s clubs, and distilleries?