Durango regularly is identified as a best small city, great outdoors city, good city for families and so on. Our location is one reason for this but equally important are a healthy downtown and smart city governance. Both of these latter reasons support a YES vote on the proposed tax increase.
I’ve lived just outside city limits for almost 20 years but am in the city daily. Until recently, I owned a condo in Durango which involved contact with city officials and the police at various times. The city staff I dealt with were courteous and professional. Same with the police.
Durango’s elected officials are the ones who attend the meetings, figure out how to deliver quality services on a fixed budget, anticipate future needs and contend with social problems in a responsible way.
The call for the tax increase followed a number of public meetings where city priorities were identified. The mix of an increase in the sales tax and property tax is well balanced and justified.
There’s always someone who opposes a tax because a police officer gave him a ticket for no reason or those who claim the city has money in some unidentified budget categories or that the library could be run by volunteers. Such is fiscal budgeting in fairyland. Durango works because of smart governance and wise budgeting.
Vote for Ballot Question 2A to keep the city healthy.
John Culver
Durango
