Being born and raised here, I take pride in calling this community my lifelong home. Over the years, I’ve watched our county grow, our needs expand, and our costs increase. But one thing has not changed: La Plata County has not raised its sales tax in 43 years. Nearly half a century has passed, yet our county is still operating under the same revenue stream while trying to meet the needs of a modern and growing community.
Ballot Issue 1A, the one-cent sales tax, is about making sure our county can continue providing the services we all rely on every single day. This funding will strengthen departments across the board – roads and bridges, the Sheriff’s Office, community development, human services for vulnerable families, and more. These are not luxuries; they are the foundations of safe, reliable, and functional communities.
Right now, our county is stretched thin. The Sheriff’s Office needs resources to keep deputies on the road and our neighborhoods safe. The Road and Bridge Department is maintaining hundreds of miles of roads with funding levels from the 1980s. Human Services supports vulnerable families, from children to seniors, yet must do so with outdated funding. Without new revenue, every department faces cuts that will impact us all.
One penny on the dollar may not seem like much, but together it makes the difference. After 43 years, it’s time to make this modest adjustment. Please join me in voting “Yes” on Ballot Issue 1A.
Kandyce Higgins
Bayfield
