The stage is set for a duel between two local political committees at odds over a proposed sales tax increase that, if passed, would help pay for Durango streets.
United for Durango’s Future is registered as an opponent to ballot measure 1A, while Citizens for Making Durango A#1 is registered as a proponent for the sales tax.
The measure, if approved, would raise sales taxes by 0.5 percent – or a half cent per every $1 spent – to pay for “construction, operation and maintenance of streets, alleys, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and related street improvements,” according to the ballot language.
David McHenry, a 41-year resident who has run twice for City Council, registered United for Durango’s Future because he thinks the city already has the money it needs to fix the streets; it’s just not using it responsibly, he said.
“We expect our elected officials and city employees to act like responsible adults and live within our budget,” McHenry said.
Christina Rinderle, a 20-year resident who has served on City Council for eight years and twice as mayor, said she registered Citizens for Making Durango A#1 because she wants to educate residents about the difference between this ballot question and the one voters rejected in November.
November’s ballot question asked residents to approve a property and sales tax increase to pay for “funding police, public safety and code enforcement; the construction, operation and maintenance of a police station and other city buildings and facilities; and the construction and maintenance of streets, alleys, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and related street improvements,” according to the ballot language. Ballot measure 2A failed by more than 20 percent.
It would have raised up to $7.5 million per year for 25 years. The new tax question would raise up to $4.69 million per year and sunset in 10 years.
Rinderle said a “no” vote would further delay needed infrastructure improvements and result in higher costs in the future to make necessary repairs and improvements.
“People think they don’t want to increase taxes, but it’s either pay me now or pay me later, and if it’s pay me later, it will be significantly more,” Rinderle said
In 2018, Citizens for Durango’s Future, a political committee formed in opposition to the November tax hike, sent mailers and distributed yard signs encouraging residents to vote NO on ballot measure 2A.
“These tax increases will make it even more difficult for individuals, families and businesses to manage their already tight budgets,” the committee wrote in its mailer.
There was no pro-2A political committee in November – something some residents said should have been formed to promote the ballot measure. Some residents said the city didn’t do a good job of selling the tax measure.
bhauff@durangoherald.com
