August 4, 2026 – Today, the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners voted to refer the renewal of the Public Safety Tax, Issue 1A, to voters in the November 2026 General Election.
Originally approved by voters in 2012, the Public Safety Tax provides dedicated revenue for public safety services in El Paso County. The tax currently supports nearly $40 million annually in expenditures for law enforcement, detention operations, emergency communications, technology, training, equipment, wildfire prevention and response, and public safety infrastructure. Within the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the revenue currently supports 197 employees in addition to equipment, technology, facilities, and other operational costs.
This measure will appear on the November 2026 General Election ballot and asks El Paso County voters whether to renew the existing Public Safety Tax. Voters will determine whether that dedicated revenue source continues in accordance with the terms of the ballot measure.
This post was updated August 11, 2026.