Taxes – almost nobody enjoys paying them.
But with shifts in oil prices, global trade and foreign conflicts, these are uncertain times. So as one of life’s few certainties arrives, The Durango Herald asked residents: “When you think about paying taxes, what programs or services do you most hope your money supports?”
On Tuesday – one day before the filing deadline – responses closely mirrored national policy and budget debates dominating the national conversation.
While the war in Iran was unpopular among some of those interviewed, infrastructure emerged as a priority. Everyone needs roads, was the consensus.
Here’s what residents said they most want their tax dollars to support:
“Schools, medicine and roads.”
“Social services, public works, education, parks and rec, and continued funding of our first responders.”
“Infrastructure – I mean it's a huge spectrum. There’s so many things our taxes go toward. If you look at your local property taxes, those get spread out like crazy.”
“That’s a loaded question – probably infrastructure.”
“Infrastructure and public safety.”
“Federally – health care, child care, anything that doesn’t go boom. Locally – our schools.”
“I would hope my tax money goes toward anything that helps the community in need, that less of it would go toward our military defense. I just want more for the people, not for the protection of the entire world.”
“Wildlife, anything to protect the wildlife, and veterans services. Its so important. We really just have to take care of the environment and anyone who protects it.”
“I would definitely say the social services, child care, health services, education, environment – the things that really build community – the arts. Anything that adds to our humanity toward one another. That’s what I support and that’s what I feel good about. The arts really make us who we are.”
“Not war. An unwar project. And education and health care.”
jbowman@durangoherald.com
