Durango City Council is asking for a property and sales tax increase this November. They stated we don’t have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem; however, the facts paint a different picture.
Colorado now tracks and analyzes cities’ audited financial statements. Some interesting facts are: Between 2011 and 2017, Durango expenses rose over 31 percent. Between 2016 and 2017, Durango expenses rose over 8 percent. When compared to similar cities, Durango ranks near the top for expense growth. Between 2011 and 2017, Durango full-time city employees increased by 25 percent.
Here are of few examples of very questionable expenditures: The city spent $17,000 for the last city attorney’s retirement party. The city spent $12,000 to survey 401 citizens about the proposed tax increase. The city hired an outside law firm at $640 an hour to draft the tax ballot measure. The city spent over $15,000 on reusable grocery bags to promote the grocery bag tax.
Unlike most Colorado cities, Durango doesn’t have a budget and finance committee. A committee is an important independent way to check budgets and long-term financial trends. The committee would question items like the staffing increases, which are one of the biggest parts of the city’s budget. They would have questioned why La Plata County government has a freeze on hiring employees while the city continues to add staff.
The city should demonstrate it can reduce spending growth before we approve tax increases. Vote NO on 2A.
Dave Peters
Durango
