I am supporting Ballot Issue 1A, including helping out the citizen-led campaign. Ballot Issue 1A provides much-needed funds to replace, repair and improve La Plata County’s network of roads and bridges. The measure sunsets (ends) after 10 years and, at that time, can be reassessed by voters.

The county will appoint a road and bridge advisory committee to give advice on priorities, and to provide citizen oversight and accountability. As part of 1A, there is a 10-year plan that lays out prioritized projects that include lane widening, repaving, bridge repair, asphalt resurfacing, intersection safety improvements and more (view the plan on the county’s web site and at www.yesforroadsandbridges.com). The municipalities of Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio will share in this revenue thus funding road and bridge projects important to each locale.

I served on the citizen group that studied the county’s revenue situation and we made recommendations to the commissioners last year. Our group studied many options. The sales tax option is not ideal because our county sales tax would have to be raised to a very high level in order to raise the amount needed and sales taxes are regressive.

The so-called “use tax” (a tax on certain durable goods) was also recommended. However, it has been rejected by voters in the past. And, why should just one business sector be taxed for something virtually everyone uses?

The idea of an impact fee is a good one but, like a sales tax increase, would not bring in nearly the amount of money needed. The majority of the county’s roads and bridges are currently rated as “fair to poor.” Once roads go downhill, experts say that they deteriorate rapidly making repairs or replacement costly and inefficient.

The steep decline in revenues from gas and oil has been anticipated for years by county commissioners spanning all political parties. That decline is now here. County coffers need to be shored up to ensure we keep our citizens safe, and our roads open and drivable.

A “Yes” vote on Ballot Issue 1A is a fiscally sound vote that will benefit all of us.

Marsha Porter-Norton

Durango