PALISADE, Colo. (KJCT) – The small town of Palisade is known for its breathtaking scenery, vineyards— and, perhaps most of all, it’s famous peaches.
Visitors from across the region and beyond travel to Palisade every year, bringing thousands of dollars into the community’s economy.
“We’re greatly dependent on the economic well-being of tourists coming into the town of Palisade, buying our peaches, buying our wines, going into restaurants,” said Palisade Mayor Greg Mikolai. “Spending their money, which then bolsters, obviously, our tax revenue.”
Mikolai has lived in Palisade since 1995 and knows just how crucial tourism dollars are to the town. That’s why, he said, the town’s tourism advisory commission plays an important role.
The commission works on marketing strategies and other ways to promote and grow Palisade’s tourism industry. And now, the commission is looking to fill an open seat.
The requirements, Mikolai said, are pretty simple.
“You need to live in the 81526 area code. That’s the first one. Be a business owner or represent a business,” Mikolai said. “And then the terms are usually four years.”
Mikolai said Palisade intentionally looks for business leaders to fill the positions because they already have an understanding for marketing and connections with economic activities going on in the community.
For anyone interested, the deadline to submit a letter of interest for the position is Oct. 7. There’s three ways you can submit a letter: in-person at the Palisade City Government Office, by mail to P.O. Box 128 in Palisade, CO or by emailing kfrasier@townofpalisade.org .
Upcoming tax proposition
The town is also preparing for a sales tax proposition that is set to appear on the Nov. 3rd ballot, which would increase the town’s sales tax from 2% to 3%.
If passed, the tax proposition would go into effect from 2027 to Dec. 2034. Palisade estimates the increase will generate around $600,000 in its first year.
Mikolai said the money would help address a roughly quarter-of-a million shortfall in the town’s upcoming budget.
He said the shortfall is partially the result of declining marijuana tax revenue. Palisade had been one of the first towns in the region to have a marijuana dispensary— but after marijuana businesses began opening in Grand Junction in 2023, less people from outside Palisade have been purchasing from the town’s dispensaries.
Another challenge, Mikolai said, has been remaining competitive in pay for first responders.
If approved, the additional sales tax revenue will toward street and park maintenance, as well as emergency services.
“I understand the pain of a tax increase. I don’t like it. My taxes are going to go up,” Mikolai said. “But I look at it and balance it out: I think having poor streets, less fire and police protection, and parks that are deteriorating is a greater pain than paying that one percent.”
Visitors would also be paying a significant portion of that additional tax when they spend money in town.
Mikolai continued, “People in Palisade should try to remember how much of our tax revenue comes in from tourism. A lot of that tax base is going to be coming from those people who come in as tourists and spend their money in the town of Palisade.”