La Plata County Commissioners on Tuesday approved, 2-1, a resolution to ask voters for a tax increase in November to fund a new terminal and improvements to the Durango-La Plata County Airport.
Voters’ approval would effectively increase county debt by $40.4 million to be paid through an increased property tax. Taxpayer revenue would cover about half of the project, with the rest to come from other sources, including Federal Aviation Administration grants.
Consistent with statements in previous meetings, Commissioners Brad Blake and Gwen Lachelt supported the resolution; Commissioner Julie Westendorff opposed it.
The two supporting commissioners maintain that the airport cannot wait and the question should be floated while there is momentum behind it. Westendorff is against multiple mill levy increase proposals crowding the ballot in the same year. The ballot item will not specify a mill levy amount; it will be set yearly by commissioners at an increase sufficient to make debt payments over 20 years. Commissioners also unanimously adopted a position of advocacy for the mill levy increase for roads and bridges, which was approved last month.
The Durango City Council Tuesday unanimously backed the resolution supporting the property tax increase for roads and bridges. The decline in the gas and oil industry has led to a need for more funds, Councilor Dick White said. “It’s a very, very serious shortfall,” White said.
Durango, Ignacio and Bayfield would also receive a percentage for road maintenance.
