Gypsum residents are likely to see a request for a sales tax hike to pay for recreation improvements

Sales tax hike of 1% would fund $29 million in upgrades

News | Mar 28, 2025

Scott Miller

Gypsum residents Jerry and Robin Santoro, center, look at examples of what the town of Gypsum's recreation master plan might look like during a Wednesday meeting at Gypsum Town Hall. Gypsum voters may be asked this fall for a 1% sales tax hike to fund the plan.
*Scott Miller/Vail Daily*

Gypsum residents may be asked this fall for a 1% increase in the town’s sales tax to fund a $29 million plan to upgrade the town’s recreation facilities.

Residents on Tuesday got a look at an ambitious possible plan for those upgrades. The recreation master plan process began in 2022, and a presentation in October 2024 resulted in a preliminary plan with improvements around the golf course clubhouse, with a price tag of more than $33 million.

The master plan presented Tuesday showed some revisions, including removing plans for a new pool at the golf course — a potential $10 million item. The new plan shows significant renovations to the existing clubhouse and restaurant, a building that now needs “millions” in repairs and upgrades, according to Town Manager Jeremy Rietmann. The plan also includes moving the golf course’s pro shop and cart storage to a new building that would also house a multi-purpose pavilion to the site of the current lap pool.

Property across the street from the current parking lot — which would be expanded by 100 spaces — would add pickleball courts and one tennis court. The site would also add children’s play areas as well as picnic and other areas, as well as shade structures and landscaping to shield activity from neighbors.

Architect Craig Bouck of Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture said not replacing the pool freed up funds for other items. Adding a splash area for kids could move to the Gypsum recreation center, where an indoor-outdoor area could be created.

Bouck said those changes have also reduced the price. The current “all-in” estimate for all of the projects is now $29 million, with an estimated completion date of 2028.

Funding is anticipated to come from a 1% sales tax increase. Voters could be asked to approve that tax this fall.

Gypsum Town Council member Tom Edwards said the increase would put the town’s sales tax at 8.4%, still the lowest in the valley. And, he added, roughly half of all the town’s sales tax receipts come from people who live outside of town, thanks to Costco and fuel and other sales at the Eagle County Regional Airport.

Addressing a nearly-full council meeting room, Edwards noted that Eagle’s sales tax rate is 9.4%, while Avon’s rate is 8.9%. Edwards said that 80% of the increase would be repealed when the improvements were paid for, with the remaining 20% remaining to pay for ongoing maintenance of the improvements.

“We’d love another Costco miracle,” Edwards said. In that instance, the retailer coming to town allowed the town to repeal its last 1% sales tax hike, approved by voters to pay for the recreation center, 10 years ahead of schedule.

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Barring that, though, Edwards said, “What we’re talking about tonight is a chance to invest for the next generation.” But whether or not to proceed is ultimately “up to you,” he added.

While a couple of residents questioned the need for more taxes, most of those in attendance were generally supportive of the plan.

Resident Larry Brooks, for many years a town of Avon employee, said he’d like to see a deeper analysis of the figures presented Wednesday, but added that many of his initial questions had been answered by the presentation.

Other residents asked about lighting, noise and staffing.

Resident Jerry Santoro urged town officials to “keep moving forward” with the plan, adding that it seems to be “moving along really well.”

Residents will get another look at the plan in April.

Eagle Valley