Wise taxing officials give themselves room when they plan to go to the voters to approve continuing a tax. That’s the case with the city of Durango, which now will postpone likely until April an extension of the 0.50% sales tax that supports parks and open space, and covers public capital costs.

It’s tax with a life of 20 years that voters approved in 2005 and thus does not have to have its future decided this November.

Proceeds from half the tax, 0.25%, are expected to continue to be used for parks and open space. But the other 0.25% is planned to support the renovation of the former 1916 School District 9-R administration and Big Picture buildings at East 2nd Avenue and 12th Street into a city hall and a police station. That tax is now directed to Florida Road improvements and to the Durango Public Library, a result of the voter approval in 2005.

City councilors announced their decision this week not to have the tax extension and partial redirection appear because other tax measures are expected on the ballot and because there was been some inaccurate information about where the money will go (proceeds will not be used to fund Downtown Durango’s Next Step, which has numerous critics).

School District 9-R may have a tax question destined for building improvements on the ballot, and from the state will be one that pertains to property taxes. The specifics of that will be finalized in a special legislative session this coming week.

Multiple taxation questions on a ballot can produce a no-to-all-of-the-above reaction, election experts say. (The creation of a library district to support the Durango Public Library and any branches, which would entail a mill levy, has also been postponed; need for more citizen advocacy is the reason.)

A date in April 2025, if that’s when the city decides to ask the 0.50% tax renewal question, provides a much more limited ballot that will be free of the distractions and heat that accompanies a presidential election.

Of note is Councilor Olivier Bosmans’ point that renovating the school building into a proper city hall and police department will likely be a very expensive proposition and that cost specifics should be forthcoming before a vote is taken. It is already expected that a 30 year tax life, rather than 20, will be needed to meet lenders’ requirements.

An April vote gives time to publicize and review that material.

Thus, there will be one fewer tax questions on the ballot that will be distributed in a few weeks, a ballot that will be long with multiple diverse issues.