Residents of Mountain Village, the European-style town that encompasses the Telluride ski resort, on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a 5% lift-ticket tax to help fund the construction, maintenance and operation of the iconic gondola that connects the mountain with the town of Telluride.

More than 77% of the town’s 376 voters backed the measure, which is estimated to generate $2.5 million per year through the new excise tax. The town will transfer the money to the San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation to help replace the existing gondola and maintain the new one.

“The gondola is the region’s most vital shared asset and the cornerstone of our current and future success,” Mountain Village Town Manager Paul Wisor said in a statement. “In this election, the Mountain Village communi

See Full Page