I have opted to write an open letter to Durango City Council instead of attending one of its scheduled community sessions, in hopes of directly sharing my thoughts and perspectives about budget issues facing the city.
From information published in the Herald, it seems you are confused as to why your tax increase proposal failed. Since you are seeking input, here is mine.
The community outreach efforts were structured in a way that fed specific information to those in attendance but representatives from the city were not interested in a real discussion of the budget.
Dick White said, “The biggest challenge is finding ways of communicating that we haven’t already tried. How do we communicate to half of the people who didn’t know anything was going on?”
Translation: The 2A tax increase was voted down because no one understands – when the truth is that city managers and Council aren’t listening to the requested input.
Please remember that communication should be a two-way street.
The statistically valid survey that was constantly quoted was a problem. One question early in the survey asked, “Are you in favor of raising taxes?” In the initial report of the survey results, over 50 percent of respondents said “no.” The rest of the survey asked questions about how we would like to be taxed! Unfortunately, it seems those were the questions you focused on, rather than the one important question about willingness to support a tax increase.
Many of us disagree with the current priorities set by City Council. If roads are failing, why spend $2 million on re-striping College Drive when bicycle traffic could be routed to neighborhood streets? Spending a proposed additional $2 million on Santa Rita Park to move the parking lot is another example of questionable decision making.
I personally found it distressing that in 2015, City Council encouraged the extension of the Parks and Rec sales tax while choosing not to share information about the pending increase in water/sewer/recycling and construction of a new sewer plant. People are feeling blind-sided and misled.
Mayor Sweetie Marbury’s comment, that it’s been years since taxes were raised for the General Fund, seemed to imply that our taxes haven’t been raised in years and that the General Fund revenue has been stagnant, when, in fact, our taxes increased for education and the Fire Authority on top of huge increases in Proprietary Funds.
Why, when General Fund revenue has increased by over $12 million from 2012 to 2019, wasn’t someone planning and saving for needed infrastructure? What kind of management team constantly overlooks the need to prepare for a new sewer plant, a new police station, road maintenance and water line maintenance? These are easily anticipated expenses. It is your job to hire a qualified manager and to oversee the financial well being of the city. City Council approved annual budgets, determined priorities, and has set this wicked problem in motion.
The Parks & Rec Department has become a sort of kingdom within the government and everyone is forced to pay for the enjoyment of a small percentage of the population who want their particular recreational activity to be offered through the city. Gymnastics, ice skating/hockey, a bike park, bike trails, tennis, climbing, outdoor volleyball, Chapman Hill chair lift, Lake Nighthorse – the list is endless. Now the dream is to develop Ewing Mesa – again, at what cost to the taxpayer?
In addition to the 2019 General Fund budget, Parks & Rec has anticipated revenue from the 2015 Sales Tax Fund of $4,358,520. And the POST Fund (Open Space, Parks & Trails) has $2,149,835. So the Parks & Rec Department has total dedicated funding of $10,875,266.
Does this budget picture represent Durango citizens’ current priorities?
Your outreach results, quoting from the City 2019 Budget, state, “We listened. We informed. We engaged with the public. In summary, this is a time to get ‘back to basics’ and maintain what we already have.”
So before crafting language for a new proposed tax, please ask us if we would prefer to reallocate a portion or all of the 2015 Sales Tax Fund to other areas of importance such as streets and a new police station.
Or move most of the Parks & Rec. General Fund program/expenditures over to the 2015 Sales Tax Fund, to free up approximately $4 million in the General Fund.
2A didn’t fail because citizens lacked an understanding of needed road maintenance or a new police station. It failed because citizens are squeezed dry.
It failed because while the city spends money on “pretty,” on multi-modal, on recreation, citizens are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.
Asking for more but in a different way in April elections just demonstrates a lack of understanding on your part.
Barb Bell moved to Durango in 1977 and was actively involved in her children’s lives. She served on the Durango School Board and was the administrator for the Durango Youth Soccer Association.
