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Commissioners vote to seek tax increase for airport expansion

Westendorff wants to postpone measure to 2017
La Plata County commissioners have moved to ask voters in November for a tax increase to help pay for an $85 million expansion of the Durango-La Plata County Airport. Meanwhile, an environmental assessment on the project proposal is underway; it will be completed in fall 2017.

La Plata County commissioners confirmed to the county clerk on a 2-1 vote Tuesday that they intend to place an airport-funding question on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Commissioners Brad Blake and Gwen Lachelt supported the resolution; Commissioner Julie Westendorff was opposed, reiterating a wariness of doubling up on tax increase proposals in the same year.

“I think it is ill-advised for us to go forward with this in 2016,” she said. “While I think the proposed terminal on the east side of the runway is the best plan for the airport’s needed improvements, I feel the public asked us to do some things that we haven’t done, like find additional sources of funding outside of FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) grants.”

Westendorff continued that the county has not sufficiently invested in educating the public on the issue, and waiting until November 2017 to float the question would allow time to find answers to lingering questions.

But her fellow commissioners favored presenting the ballot item this year, while the subject is fresh in voters’ minds.

“There’s something to be said for momentum,” Lachelt said. “We’ve had these conversations for at least two years, possibly three.”

A property tax hike is the proposed funding mechanism for both the Durango-La Plata County Airport expansion and the county road and bridge fund. Commissioners approved the latter last week, also for the November 2016 ballot.

Though Tuesday’s vote secures a place on the ballot for the airport question, the language is not final. Commissioners met Tuesday with Durango city councilors, who also support the ballot measure, to discuss ballot language.

“People just want to know what they’re voting on, how much money it costs them, and when it sunsets,” Councilor Sweetie Marbury said.

Both parties agreed to target $40 million as the amount they want to collect (the other half is expected to come from FAA funds and user fees) and establish a sunset. The expansion’s objectives are to create a safer airport with improved services and room to accommodate more passengers.

Local leaders will continue massaging the language in the months ahead.

jpace@durangoherald.com

Aug 8, 2016
Committees raise funds for airport, road and bridge initiatives
Aug 2, 2016
La Plata County commissioners OK airport question on November ballot
Jul 13, 2016
Workforce development board weighs airport ballot item
Mar 1, 2016
Property tax increase favored for Durango-La Plata County Airport expansion
Feb 16, 2016
La Plata County, Durango officials mull tax question for airport


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