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City supports new mill levy tax increase

Council approves resolution Tuesday

If La Plata County’s bid for higher property taxes wins voter approval, Durango’s streets department could receive hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for 10 years.

“We have to have an ongoing capital improvements project, and this money would help out tremendously,” said Levi Lloyd, director of city operations.

Durango City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday evening in support of the increase.

“Healthy transportation serves us all,” said Mayor Dean Brookie.

If the ballot question passes, it will give La Plata County commissioners the latitude to approve an increase of up to 2.4 mills. If the full increase is enacted, the mill levy would increase from 8.5 mills to 10.9 mills.

Voter approval could bring Durango’s streets department about $600,000 in 2016, and the boost in funding would continue through 2025. The city has been receiving about $180,000 annually.

The city has invested heavily from city savings over the past two years to catch up on street maintenance, and the average condition of the streets has improved, Lloyd said.

But the city does not plan to continue extensively funding the street maintenance and construction from the general fund savings, so this could help.

The additional funding could also help offset the costs of upgrading the city’s stormwater drainage system, which is likely to take many millions of dollars and several years to complete.

mshinn@durangoherald.com

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