[BoulderCouncilHotline] Proposed 20-year extension of OSMP 0.15 tax

[Morzel, Lisa]

Colleagues and Jane,

A few comments regarding item 3C and the proposed 20-year extension of the OSMP 0.15 tax:

1.  We already know that OSMP needs ~$100 million over the next 20 years [$5 million/year] to address the “top tier” #1 needs in the OSMP master plan – i.e

* reduce trail maintenance backlog
* increase soil health and resilience
* Preserve and restore important habitat for native plants and animals
* address conflicts between agriculture and prairie dogs, and
* meet needs presented by substantially increasing visitation levels and the management challenges that entails.
So, why would we not pass a tax increment to fund these known needs (as opposed to funding half of them)?

2.Questions about the General Fund:

At least one (to become two at the end of 2019, not to mention the loss of the general fund $1MM transfer from the general fund to OSMP in 2020?) of the OSMP tax increments that have been lost/repurposed in the last year have gone to the general fund – so, doesn’t the general fund have enough money to pick up ~$24 million in costs listed in Mary’s Hotline post?

Jane, please send a list of all the sales tax increments that have been re-purposed (from OSMP, the Library or other city departments) to the general fund over the last 2 to 3 decades and how those funds have been spent (or to what department they have been re-purposed)?  I would appreciate that list being sent to us before Tuesday night’s meeting and a copy placed at our seats on the dais.

Where have those tax dollars gone?  Have they been put toward various budget increases, into the reserve, or have they gone to address needs in the departments as itemized by Mary?  Couldn’t those tax dollars be used to cover the needs listed in Mary’s Hotline post?  [There’s approximately $10 million/year that’s going somewhere OTHER THAN TO OSMP  by Jan 2020 – i.e. OSMP’s tax that expired in Jan. 2019 + OSMP’s tax that expires Dec 31, 2019 + the $1 million/year that has been transferred from the general fund to OSMP each year to compensate for Mtn Parks costs absorbed by OSMP following the merger.

I know that some of it goes to transportation for a few years before going to the general fund.  I think the rest goes directly to the general fund. So couldn’t some of the money to cover the needs in Mary’s list come from General fund sources?

Thank you.

Lisa

Lisa Morzel
Member, Boulder City Council
303-815-6723 c
303-938-8520 h


How far we humans as stewards of the Earth have fallen.


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