No parks tax on fall ballot, after all

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Created on Tuesday, 21 June 2011 19:30

Written by Aaron Linn

Scenes like this in local parks are all-too common, thanks to cuts to maintenance and operating budgets.

An effort to get a new sales tax on the November ballot to fund parks maintenance has ended, after parks advocates today withdrew a request to county commissioners to put it to the voters.

Here's the story:

Parks advocates withdraw request for sales tax proposal

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Citing a lack of support among elected officials, parks advocates this morning withdrew their request for a sales tax to fund maintenance at area parks.

Great Parks-Great Communities wanted voters to decide on a 0.15 percent sales tax, to make up for drastic budget cuts that have left facilities closed, trash uncollected and lawns unwatered. That would have meant 1.5 cents on a $10 purchase, for an estimated $9.4 million annually to divide among municipalities for park maintenance.

But at the last minute, Susan Davies, executive director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition, told El Paso County commissioners that parks supporters no longer want the measure on the November ballot. The county would have had to approve the ballot measure and pay for the election.

Newly elected Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach, whose city would get 78 percent of the revenue, had voiced opposition to the tax, as had some commissioners.

“We regret that we have been unable to convince you to support allowing a vote on the Great Parks initiative despite a vast majority of our residents favoring this fundamental opportunity,” Davies said.