A majority of Purgatory Metropolitan District voters appeared to be on board with a 2.5% sales tax increase that will help pay for road repairs and snow removal in 2023 and beyond. Of the 33 votes counted as of 11:54 p.m., 61% were for the increase, while 39% voted against it.

But with about 560 votes not yet counted in Tuesday night’s election – and an untold number of those from eligible voters in the metro district – it was possible the vote count could flip, said La Plata County Clerk and Recorder Tiffany Lee.

The 2.5% sales tax increase is intended to help pay for road repairs and snow removal in 2023 and beyond.

“The idea behind it is to get visitors to the district to contribute to road repairs, snow removal, anything road-related,” said Purgatory Metro District Manager Eric Hassel. “That’s what the sales tax is for. Anything that has to do with our roads: bus stops, trails, sidewalks, lighting, painting, signs, etc.”

One of the most important factors of the sale tax increase is for safety measures within the district.

“The safety measures have to do with signage and flashing lights and our crosswalk areas,” said Hassel, “as well as sanding the roads.”

The sales tax increase is estimated to bring in about $600,000 in 2023 and will not affect the sales of ski lift tickets or seasonal passes.

Some locals contacted Hassel when first notified of the ballot measure, confused by its wording.

“I’ve talked to a few people who wondered if it was a property tax and what it’s actually for,” said Hassel, “but most of them were favorable toward it after I explained it.”

Known as a La Plata San Juan subdistrict, the boundaries for Purgatory Metropolitan District begin at Engineer Village and move north to Tacoma Village on the east the side of U.S. Highway 550, ending just past the San Juan County line.

“We have almost 6 miles of paved roads in our district now, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is,” Hassel said. “Our biggest focus right now is the road repairs and snow removal and everything associated with our roads.”

molsen@durangoherald.com