Committee Nears Final Decisions on Regional Transportation Authority
By Andrew Villegas, Greeley Tribune, Colo.
May 18–A citizens’ committee examining a proposal to fund transportation projects in Weld and Larimer counties came closer to finalizing the particulars of its proposal Wednesday after months of negotiation among members.
The steering committee, put together by the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization, has about two dozen residents that met for the first time in February to explore the possibility of a regional transportation authority.
Among the tentative decisions the committee made Wednesday:
–a 42 percent shareback of tax funds for each municipality;
–a 1 percent sales tax increase on everything purchased in the tax district, except food;
–a 1 percent use tax on motor vehicles and building materials;
–and A $10 per motor vehicle registration fee.
The plan would raise approximately $631 million in 10 years for use on transportation projects.
The planning organization’s proposal would include parts of Larimer and Weld, including Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor and some areas south of Greeley. Additionally, municipalities inside the planning organization’s borders would be able to opt out of the authority.
Officials from Greeley and Weld have already floated their own proposals, leading some to wonder whether the city will be part of a transportation authority at all.
The Board of Weld County Commissioners has its own option for a transportation authority that also would levy a 1 percent sales tax on Weld residents. Commissioners say the regional planning organization’s plan leaves out too many of Weld’s southern residents and would send Weld tax dollars to projects in Larimer.
Greeley has also proposed its own sales tax increase — .62 to .68 percent — that would fund road maintenance in Greeley only.
John Daggett, a planning manager with the planning organization, said the next step is for the steering committee to solicit feedback from city managers and mayors.
Daggett added that the figures in the committee’s decisions will probably change a little in the final version that ends up on ballots.
“It’s the starting point of the discussion,” said Daggett, who added he thinks the steering committee has “bent over backward to keep Greeley in the fold.”
With all the transportation authority proposals on the table, some have questioned whether Greeley would be part of the planning organization’s transportation authority. Some paperwork handed out at a previous committee meeting stated the committee was working under the assumption that Greeley wouldn’t be part of the authority.
Daggett said he believed the committee’s plan meets Greeley’s road maintenance needs.
Sarah MacQuiddy, president of the Greeley-Weld Chamber of Commerce and a member of the steering committee, said she’s happy the planning organization at least has progressed this far in making its final decisions.
“At least we have a straw man to bring to the table,” MacQuiddy said. “I feel good in that we’ve always said we want to take care of Greeley and think regionally.”
MacQuiddy said a recent study by the group found that 25 percent of Greeley’s work force comes from outside the city, but she said she’s worried increasingly expensive gas prices will make the transportation authority less attractive to voters.
“I want the gas prices to get under control because people are going to say, ‘My pocketbook can’t take anymore,’” MacQuiddy said. “And if not now, then when?”
More to come
The planning organization’s citizens’ steering committee will meet with area city managers and mayors at a meeting at 6 p.m. May 30 at the restaurant in the Budweiser Events Center, located at Interstate 25 and Crossroads Boulevard.
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Copyright (c) 2007, Greeley Tribune, Colo.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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