[BoulderCouncilHotline] 9/3/2019 Consent Agenda Item 3C - Extension of Open Space Tax

[Young, Mary]

Dear Colleagues and Community,

Under consent, we will be considering a 20 year .15 extension of the Open Space tax, 1st year for Long's Garden Conservation easement and the subsequent 19 years for Open Space maintenance (an ongoing need). I would like to have a discussion to instead consider a 10 year extension with the first year also going to Long's Conservation easement.

Here is why:
It has been said that not dedicating the full tax to Open Space would be irresponsible. I agree. It is equally irresponsible not to consider all of the other city-wide unfunded ongoing needs as we make this decision.

Here are a few (source April 19, 2019 Study Session Packet attached):
Transportation Core Maintenance and Operations - $3.6 million
Transit Service Expansion Support - $5.72 million
Vision Zero - $1.3 million
Library Master Plan - $6.53 million
Library Master Plan (NoBo library) - $3.6 million
Fire EMS Service Annual Operating - $3.3 million

The above needs total $24 million of ongoing needs. A .15 tax brings in about $5 million/year. The estimated revenue for the 19 year period is $95 million dollars, for nine years it would be $45 million.

We don't have a sustainable city budget.

I ask that we consider the big picture. To be sure, Open Space is an important community value, but so is transportation, the library, and public safety. Not to mention affordable housing.

I plan on asking to make "Deep Dive into Budget" a work plan item with the new council at our January retreat. The aim would be to make sure that in the ensuing ten years we develop a plan to arrive at city sustainability.

[cid:16922d6b-aee4-4ed9-abc5-3ff7b223daa4]
​Ursus Wehrli "tidying up" Keith Haring

Thank you.

Mary Dolores Young
Boulder City Council
303-501-2439

"All ethics . . . rest upon a single premise: that the individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts . . ." - Aldo Leopold

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