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A group consisting of nonprofit, civic and business groups is leading a new campaign to encourage Boulder County voters to vote “Yes” on ballot issue 1C, which would extend the current 0.1% countywide transportation sales tax.
The sales tax has funded multimodal transportation improvements, programs and services for over 20 years. Extending it would ensure the funding of Boulder County’s transportation network, say leaders of the newly formed “Keeping Boulder County Moving” campaign.
“Boulder County is committed to being a leader to protect the environment, the impacts of climate change and to improve equitable access to opportunities for mobility for all residents,” said Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy, and a member of “Keeping Boulder County Moving” in a news release.
“Passing Issue 1C is essential to sustain our existing work to advance multimodal transportation,” Levy said. “Without it, we will fall behind in achieving these critical community values.”
The tax is set to sunset in mid-2024.
Besides Levy, Keeping Boulder County Moving members include former Boulder County Transportation Director George Gerstle, Commuting Solutions, Cyclists 4 Community, Boulder Chamber of Commerce, Boulder Transportation Connections, Sister Carmen Community Center, Center for People with Disabilities, Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA), OUR Center and Via Mobility Services.
“Transportation in Boulder County is something we need to invest in to meet our existing and growing mobility needs, whether connecting our communities within the county or providing the critical mobility services and programs for everyone in our community,” said committee co-Chairperson, Audrey DeBarros, executive director of Commuting Solutions, in the news release.
“We need to continue current funding to have a safe, sustainable,equitable and affordable transportation network that connects communities throughout the county and to the region,” DeBarros said.
This existing sales tax equates to just 1 cent on a $10 purchase and has paid for almost all the multimodal improvements implemented by the county in the last two decades, giving people more travel choices, the news release states. This sales tax allows the county to provide the necessary match to receive millions in state and federal transportation funds.
The campaign committee will host two educational webinars about Boulder County’s transportation network, the benefits of extending the sales tax and how the funding will be invested. These will take place Thursday, October 20, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., and Tuesday, October 25, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
To learn more about the proposed sales tax extensions, to register for the webinars or to donate to the campaign, visit the Keeping Boulder County Moving website.
According to Vote411.org, no organized opposition has been identified on this issue.
