8.9 Percent Winter Park Tax Tops For Tapping Taxpayer Trough

According to a recently released study by the Tax Foundation, Colorado ranks 24th in average sales tax rates among the 50 states, with a statewide average of 6.98 percent. (Tax Foundation)

That's pretty good, until you come up to Grand County. Our local taxing authorities, drunk on the rarefied air of the Rockies, have decided that isn't good enough. They think we have too many Texans, Nebraskans, Arkansonians, Kansans and their flatland ilk not paying their fair share to enjoy nature's bounty, so they've piled on the sales taxes. Of course, they fail to mention that you and I have to pay the same tax when we do things like eat.

The Town of Winter Park, with its 8.9 percent total sales tax, collects a full 27 percent more sales taxes than the statewide average. At 7.9 percent, the town of Fraser collects 13 percent more sales taxes. But that's not good enough. They want more!


This November, the towns, in cahoots with the Grand Foundation, Winter Park Ski Area and the East Grand School District, are going to try to convince voters to approve a 100 Percent Increase to county sales taxes in order to shore up the mortally wounded school budget. "But it's only a penny", they cry!


That penny would equate to a person in Winter Park paying nearly 42 Percent More Sales Tax than the statewide average. Sorry, but that math doesn't add up!


UPDATE: A commenter asked how we stack up against other resorts. Here you are:


All you have to do is visit the Colorado Department of Revenue website to find them: Colorado Department of Revenue

Vail: 8.4%
Aspen: 8.6%, which includes a .5% mass transit tax.
Breckenridge: 8.35%, which includes a .75% mass transit tax.
Steamboat: 8.4% 

Winter Park would be at 9.9% after this initiative, or 15 percent higher than Aspen, and they at least have mass transit!