The 32nd Street bridge is a symptom of the problem that needs addressing. The problem is that the city is collecting an unsettling amount of money for the Parks and Recreation Department.
They have so much money that they have to spend it quick. Otherwise, council could ask the voters to use the money more wisely, perhaps for a police station.
When the Parks and Recreation sales tax was first approved, most of the revenues paid off debt for the Rec Center, a straight-forward project. Now, in 2020, with the debt paid off, that revenue is available for anything the city can dream up. The $15 million Parks and Recreation budget is more than the police and fire departments combined.
To rebut concerns that Parks and Recreation has too much money, a consultant produced a $300 million wish list and attached the official-sounding tag of “master plan.” Apparently, the city thinks this list will divert voter attention from the fact this tax has outlived its usefulness.
We must re-evaluate our entire tax structure. Previous councils tied taxes to flag-waving issues like recreation and streets. But when tax revenue started flowing, staff found ways to use the money for expenses not disclosed to voters. Witness the 2019 tax that was sold as a street tax, but now staff uses double-talk to hire new employees and provide pay raises.
There still are no streets fixed. We have dedicated taxes collecting millions but lack a good spending plan.
We can change this.
John SimpsonDurango
