The proposed lodgers tax allocates 55% of revenues received to attract tourists; only 20% to mitigate traffic and parking impacts created.
The need to spend more money on attracting tourists is not known at this time. Durango is no longer a secret, recently making many published articles a “top 10” place to visit. The pandemic surprisingly resulted in many more tourists coming here for outside recreation opportunities.
Earmarking 55% for tourism is foolish. The main tourist impact is parking. More than 99% of all visitors arrive in Durango in a vehicle; their own, a rental or taxi. A parking garage at the Transit Center was identified as needed in the 2007 Comprehensive Plan. This need increased since 2007.
The city relaxed parking standards and today bump-outs eliminate parking spots. A parking garage at the Transit Center is an ideal location for electric vehicle charging stations. Many tax advocates want to build a conference center, requiring a parking garage nearby. If you can’t park downtown, shops and restaurants are affected, nor can you build a conference center downtown.
This much-needed parking garage will not be built in the foreseeable future unless voters reject the proposed lodgers tax and pass a revised lodgers tax. Please vote ‘No’ and let the new City Council know you want a revised plan allocating 75% of the tax raised for a parking garage at the Transit Center with electric vehicle charging stations and no additional funding to promote tourism until the need is clear.
John VinerDurango
