This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
The Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce’s board has voted to support ballot measure
110, “Let’s Go Colorado,” a state-wide transportation funding question on the 2018
ballot. The Chamber’s Public Policy Committee reviewed both transportation measures
on the 2018 ballot including 109, “Fix Our Damn Roads.” After hearing from campaign
leaders on both measures, Kelly Brough, CEO of the Denver Chamber for 110 and Jon
Caldara at the Independence Institute on 109, the committee sent recommendations to
the board to support 110 and remain neutral on 109.
“The Chamber’s Public Policy Committee spent a good amount of time reviewing both
these transportation measures. Because of Longmont’s situation with FasTracks, our
Policy members deliberated on these, especially 110, as it includes a sales tax increase,”
said Brian Berry, 2018 Board of Directors Chair. “In the end, our policy and board
members were not excited about either measure, but because transportation
infrastructure is so foundational to commerce, they believe supporting 110 is the best
answer for us locally, regionally and state-wide,” Berry added.
Currently, there is a $9 billion shortfall for transportation infrastructure projects across
the state of Colorado. Measure 110 proposes a six cents sales tax on a $10 purchase and
sunsets in twenty years. Forty percent of funds will be directed back to cities and
counties for local projects. “The funds for local projects was an important consideration
in our Chamber’s support of 110. With our community’s history with sales taxes for
transportation, I doubt the Longmont Chamber could have supported this measure
without funds for local projects," said Scott Cook, Longmont Chamber CEO. He added,
“The Longmont Chamber worked closely with our Northwest Chamber Alliance Partners
in Boulder, Broomfield, Superior and the Latino Chamber to place several of our regional
projects on the CDOT priority list.”
The Longmont Chamber looks forward to joining its Northwest Chamber Alliance partner
chambers in support of 110. Members of the alliance have differing positions on 109
“Fix our Damn Roads,” the Longmont Chamber will remain neutral on that question. A
number of other Chambers around the state are supporting 110 including the Denver Chamber of Commerce and neighboring Chambers in Boulder and Fort Collins. Detailed
information and a list of proposed transportation projects can be found at the Let’s Go
Colorado website, www.LetsGoColorado.com.
