HomeMy WebLinkAboutConstituent Letter - Read Before Packet - 1/20/2015 - Letter From Ann Hutchison, Fort Collins Area Chamber Of Commerce, Re: City Street Maintenance Program - Agenda Item #14January 19, 2015
Fort Collins City Council
300 LaPorte Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Dear Mayor Weitkunat, Mayor Pro Tem Horak, and Council Members Campana,
Cunniff, Overbeck, Poppaw and Troxell;
As you consider whether to submit to the registered electors of the city at the April
7, 2015, Regular City Election the question of the extension of the expiring
quarter-cent sales and use tax used to fund the City's Street Maintenance Program,
we want to offer a few thoughts.
The renewal of the quarter-cent sales tax would provide the Street Maintenance
Program important funding for the repair and renovation of the City's street
system. The program has proven to be extremely cost effective, providing
preventative maintenance on streets when inexpensive processes can be used
rather than waiting until more expensive and disruptive major maintenance or
replacement is required. The City's transportation capital needs and our street
infrastructure would be severely underfunded without this funding tool.
Additionally, the burden for the cost of the program is shared among citizens and
visitors when presented as a sales tax. With more than 1 million visitors entering
our community each year, it is reassuring to see them help to pay, via sales tax, to
maintain this important infrastructure in our community. This stands in contrast to
the idea of imposing a transportation fee, which disproportionally burdens
residents and businesses.
We are hopeful that you will provide voters with the opportunity to consider this
sales tax renewal.
Sincerely,
Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
Ann Hutchison
Executive Vice President
cc: David May
Darin Atteberry
Jan. 20 Council Meeting
Agenda Item #14