A ballot measure allowing Colorado Mountain College to set its mill levy above the state property tax limit was passed by a decisive majority of voters on Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s Office.

As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, ballot measure 7C was passing with 71.3% of the vote in favor (35,830 votes) and 28.7% in opposition (14,413 votes).

Colorado Mountain College President Matt Gianneschi said the college was comfortable calling the race at around 9:30 p.m. “We’re thrilled with the outcome,” he wrote in a statement.

The measure was approved by over two-thirds of the voters in all eight counties covered by the college’s special taxing district.

“We are grateful for the trust our communities continue to place in Colorado Mountain College,” Gianneschi said. “Sixty years ago this week, local voters created CMC because they believed in the transformational power of education to strengthen our region. Tonight’s vote reaffirms this expression of hope for strong futures in the places we call home. Our friends and neighbors should be confident that we won’t ever take their trust for granted.”

Colorado Mountain College is a public college with 11 campuses across the central mountain region. Its special taxing district covers eight counties and nine school districts, including all or portions of Eagle, Garfield, Summit, Pitkin and Lake counties, as well as the city of Steamboat Springs and the Salida School District.

Ballot measure 7C was authored by the Colorado Mountain College board of trustees and requested the approval of voters to raise its mill levy past the 5.25% yearly revenue growth cap for local governments approved by Colorado lawmakers in 2024.

Chris Romer, president of the college’s board of trustees, said the cap blocks Colorado Mountain College from adjusting its mill levy without seeking approval from voters, which would slow several projects.

Measure 7C’s ballot language states the increased revenue will go toward expanding training for nurses and first responders, expanding in-demand skilled trades and developing housing strategies to retain talent in mountain communities.

While there was no registered opposition to ballot measure 7C, some individuals argued the statewide revenue growth cap should apply to all local governments and special taxing districts without exceptions, and that the college’s improvements shouldn’t be funded by increases in homeowners’ property taxes.

Roughly 70% of the college’s funding comes from property taxes, followed by tuition (12-15%) and state funding (13%). The public college’s affordable tuition is made possible through property tax funding, Romer said.

The ballot measure has a 10-year sunset, after which voters will need to vote on whether to extend it.