Fruita Voters Approve Sales Tax Hike to Boost Emergency Services

New funding will support hiring more police, firefighters, and EMTs, as well as equipment upgrades.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:20am

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A realistic oil painting of a red fire engine parked on a shadowy city street, with warm sunlight casting dramatic diagonal shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and civic duty.The new sales tax funding will help Fruita's fire department upgrade aging equipment and improve emergency response capabilities.Grand Junction Today

Preliminary results from Tuesday's municipal elections in Fruita, Colorado show voters have approved a 0.2% sales tax increase to generate nearly $1 million annually starting in 2027 to strengthen the city's police, fire, and emergency medical services. The measure will allow the fire department to hire four new positions, including a fire inspector, and replace aging equipment.

Why it matters

Fruita's emergency services have struggled to keep up with growing demand, often relying on assistance from neighboring agencies when multiple calls come in at once. This new funding will help the city become more self-sufficient and improve overall public safety for residents.

The details

The sales tax increase will support hiring additional police officers, firefighters, and EMTs, along with upgrading aging equipment like fire trucks and water tenders. Fire Chief Matt Katzenberger says the initial funding will provide for four new positions, including a fire inspector to assist the fire marshal and three more personnel for emergency response operations.

  • The new sales tax will take effect starting in 2027.
  • The fire department is still waiting on a fire truck ordered in 2022 and a water tender that has been on order for a couple years.

The players

Matt Katzenberger

Fire Chief for Lower Valley Fire Protection District.

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What they’re saying

“It's exciting to know that the citizens of Fruita are still as supportive as they've always been for emergency services, the goal of making a safer community here in Fruita.”

— Matt Katzenberger, Fire Chief

“We are a little bit out here by ourselves. We do have great partners in emergency services and oftentimes we have three or four ambulances out at one time. And when that happens, then Grand Junction is the next closest and they do come and help us out. But this will definitely help our ability to cover the demands within our district.”

— Matt Katzenberger, Fire Chief

What’s next

The final election results will be certified in the coming days, after which the city can begin planning how to allocate the new funding for public safety initiatives.

The takeaway

This voter-approved sales tax increase demonstrates Fruita residents' commitment to strengthening their local emergency services and enhancing public safety in the growing community. The additional resources will help the fire department become more self-sufficient and better equipped to handle rising call volumes.