City Council members voted 5-1 Tuesday to approve a first reading of an ordinance that could see a property tax question on the ballot in Steamboat Springs in November.

The ballot language is not finalized, but council directed the city’s attorney, Dan Foote, to produce a draft ballot question that would see Steamboat voters decide Nov. 5 on approving a 1-mill property tax, “for the purpose of providing child care and senior living health care services and facilities.” The proposed ordinance includes a 10-year sunset on the tax levy.

Council will vote on a second reading of the ordinance Sept. 3.

The initial vote Tuesday night came in response to the pending closure of Casey’s Pond and the associated displacement for residents of the senior living facility, which is under receivership proceedings.

Bellann Raile from Cordes & Company, the court-appointed receiver for the facility, said Monday that 32 residents in the skilled nursing section of the facility who are on Medicaid must move out by Oct. 27.

On Aug. 15, Raile notified residents that the assisted living section at Casey’s Pond, which houses 36 additional residents, would close in 90 days on Nov. 13.

The eviction deadline for Casey’s Pond prompted council members to pass an emergency ordinance Aug. 14 to direct $2.5 million from the city’s short-term tax revenue collections for the purpose of acquiring 15 units of employee housing located at the senior living facility.

But how the city’s proposed funding from short-term rental tax revenue could complete any type of deal to save Casey’s Pond is unclear. The $2.5 million in funding would be a fraction of the estimated $28 million to $30 million needed to satisfy bondholders involved with the deal.

With the proposed property tax question, most council members agreed it would be important with, or without, the opportunity to support Casey’s Pond.

“I don’t see child care or health care ever being able to create its own revenue stream … this gives me a lot of comfort that we can actually put something on the property tax for these two things,” said council member Steve Muntean.

“If Casey’s Pond is not saved, the need for senior living and health care services and facilities is still, and in fact, even more the case,” said council member Joella West.

Council member Amy Dickson voted against approval of the first reading of the ballot ordinance.

“I do have concerns about this … one, this was brought up because we were hoping it would help save Casey’s Pond — the timing is off, it is not going to, we don’t know the outcome of Casey’s Pond by the time this election takes place,” she said.

“I think we are rushing into it, and I think we do need to pull back and really pull back into the larger property tax or diversified revenue stream conversation,” added Dickson. “I support Casey’s Pond 100%; this won’t help pull them out of the situation they are already in.”