In an effort to secure funding for La Plata County’s roadways, the county coming to the voters with a proposed property tax increase. Over the past couple of years, the county has been able to knock a few projects off the to-do list by working with other municipalities, such as with the intersection of County Road 250 and 32nd Street, which was resurfaced and made a four-way stop./Photo by Jennaye Derge

Bridging the gap

County brings road and bridge tax increase to voters

by Tracy Chamberlin

With natural gas prices hitting all-time lows and a recovery unlikely, county officials saw the numbers on the wall.

The overall budget for La Plata County has fallen 48 percent since 2010, mainly because of the decline in oil and gas royalties. Along with the decrease have come backlogs in county projects, like the maintenance and repair of La Plata’s roads and bridges.

“Over the last couple of years we haven’t been able to maintain our roads,” said La Plata County Commissioner Julie Westendorff. “If we continue to delay it, we’ll get further behind.”

In an effort to secure funding for the county’s roadways, they’re coming to the voters with a proposed property tax increase. The tax would be used exclusively for road and bridge projects, cannot exceed 2.4 mills and would expire in 10 years.

One mill is equal to $1 on every $1,000 of assessed property value. So, if the mill levy passes, owners of a home valued at $350,000 will see their annual tax go up from $20 to about $98. Commercial properties would see a bigger increase, paying $300 per year for a property worth $400,000.

Rock the vote Ballots for the November election went out Tuesday to almost 33,000 La Plata County residents, who are expected to get them within the week. It’s a mail-in ballot, which needs to be back in the County Clerk and Recorder’s hands by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tues., Nov. 3. Voters have several options for turning ballots in – by mail, drop boxes or polling stations. If snail mail is the choice, get them to the post office by Tues., Oct. 27. If drop boxes or polling stations are preferred, check out www.laplatacountyclerk.org and click on “elections” for locations and dates. For even more info, call the County Clerk and Recorder’s Office at 382-6296. This week: County Ballot Issue No. 1A and City of Durango Question 2B. Next week: State Proposition BB

Westendorff said the county would still have to be aggressive about pursuing grants and partnerships, but they’d be in a much better position to mitigate funding fluctuations.

“All three commissioners are on board with this,” she added.

The process for road and bridge funding began several years ago, when the only other public project in the county talking taxes was the airport.

The county convened a Long Term Finance Committee to look at budgets and capital improvements, and a Community Steering Committee to make recommendations on funding options for projects like roads and bridges.

Steve Parker, a former bank CEO, long-time county resident and member of the Steering Committee, said communities are defined by their transportation systems.

So, although there’s never enough money to get everything everyone wants, some basic county services need to be dealt with. “Roads and bridges are at the top of the list,” he said.

Three key things came out of the Steering Committee and ended up on the ballot: the 10-year term of the tax,  the 2.4 mill levy and the creation of a Road and Bridge Citizen Advisory Committee, which would be tasked with prioritizing projects and reporting exactly where the money is spent.

Westendorff said she wasn’t in favor of the 10-year term in the beginning.

After all, the county’s roads and bridges constantly need to be maintained, and maintenance is cheaper than rebuilding. But she realized by having the tax sunset, or expire, after a decade the county would be forced to take a look at what it has accomplished.

“It’s a future point to re-evaluate,” she said, “and (it) gives us an opportunity to show voters we did what we said we were going to do.”

The Steering Committee also suggested a mill levy increase between 1.5 and 2.5 mills.

Westendorff said she didn’t think 1.5 mills would get the job done. County commissioners decided on 2.4 because they can always reduce the amount. What they cannot do is increase it without a vote from the people – something else that could cost the county money.

Under the state’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, tax increases have to be voted on by the people, Westendorff said.

The flexibility to reduce the tax could come in handy if the county decides to supplement the roads and bridges fund with other sources, like a use tax or impact fees – something it is looking into.

Use taxes could be applied, for example, to vehicles purchased in other communities but using the roads in La Plata County. Impact fees could be imposed on new development.

“I always felt growth ought to pay for itself,” Parker said.

The current property tax rate for La Plata County is 8.5 mills. The additional 2.4 mills dedicated to the road and bridge fund would increase that rate to 10.9. 

The mill levy has been the same for the past 25 years and is currently the fourth lowest in the state. Although that would change if the tax increase is approved, La Plata County’s rate would still be half of the state median, according to Westendorff.

The county isn’t the only one who would benefit from the additional money, either. Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio would all get a portion to put toward their road and bridge projects.

Over the past few years, Westendorff said, the county has been able to knock off a couple of projects with the help of other local governments and the Colorado Department of Transportation. But, the backlog is piling up.

“If we’re going to continue to have a vibrant county,” Parker said, “we’ve got to have roads that work.”

City to keep sewer plant at Santa Rita Park It’s not about the money, it’s just about the loan. The query before Durango voters, listed as Question 2B on the ballot, asks residents to allow the city to take on a $68 million bond debt to pay for the new Wastewater Treatment Plant. The money the city would use to pay off that debt is already coming in via the sewer rate increases that went into effect at the beginning of this year. Recently, the Durango City Council voted unanimously to keep the plant at Santa Rita Park and remodel rather than move it to another location. Several reasons were given for the decision – the biggest one being the approximately $20 million extra needed for the move. Other reasons include the fact that some of the facilities cannot be moved and would always remain at Santa Rita, and potential alternate locations came with construction, timeline and acquisition challenges. Council members have expressed concerns that residents upset with the decision might decide to vote “no” on the bond measure. But, they say, that wouldn’t change the location or the city’s need to update the facility. It might even cost the city more money, forcing it to come back to voters in subsequent elections, and could delay construction, putting the city at risk of violating state requirements for wastewater processing. – Tracy Chamberlin