Durango School District 9-R is asking taxpayers for another $150 million bond, even though we still haven’t paid off the $90 million from 2020. The school board seems comfortable spending money they didn’t earn. While the district claims the new bond will help fund employee housing, higher taxes will inevitably drive up housing costs. The average home price in Durango is already $740,000 (Remax.com). Increasing taxes will make homeownership even more out of reach for many residents. Is the plan to force employees into government-controlled rental housing? What's next, the company store?
Why is expansion necessary? The student population has been declining since 2020, from 6,931 to 5,267 (Colorado Department of Education). It appears 9-R is relying on uninformed non-homeowners to pass this bond. Renters, remember that when property taxes increase, so does your rent. Businesses that lease space will face higher costs, which will be passed on to consumers. Who wants to pay more for everything?
9-R claims to be committed to transparency, but important questions remain unanswered. How long will this bond take to pay off? What will the total cost to taxpayers be? If the district truly valued transparency, they would create a live budget webpage to show every expenditure to the public – after all, it’s our money. If they won’t do this willingly, what are they hiding? The problem isn’t revenue; it’s spending. Vote “no” on more taxes!
Jason Mietchen
Durango
