So now the city has proposed a new half-cent tax for 10 years. Why? With sales tax revenue threatened by increasing online sales, decreasing oil and gas tax revenue, increasing construction costs, and higher minimum wages, the city needs to raise money to adequately maintain and repair the streets of Durango. This will save the citizens millions of dollars over time. The tax will be used for specific projects which the city has prioritized based on paving assessments and other metrics.
This is not some haphazard plan, but one based on careful long-term planning. Please visit the www.A1durango.com website for answers to many of the questions and criticisms that have been raised.
As to raiding the 2015 recreation tax funding, this would require a vote of the citizens and also be detrimental to our large recreation economy, negatively impact the health of our community and damage our local culture and reputation.
Rarely mentioned or discussed are the myriad programs and activities that the recreation department provides for the children of our working parents.
These provide an affordable, safe, healthy, educational space after school, during school vacations and over the summer for the children of Durango that allow their parents to work in our community.
Fifty cents for every $100 is money well spent to maintain our streets. I urge all residents to vote YES on 1A.
Sandy Burke
Durango
