It’s been said that “the only certainties in this life are death and taxes,” and the general consensus is that neither is desirable. Why have people come to hate taxes? Partly because the U.S. tax code has metastasized so much that even people who work for the IRS have never read all the thousands of its pages, and many believe that the tax code isn’t fair.
We would argue that reasonable taxes are desirable, and let us tell you why. Good taxes are about the common good. When they arrived in Massachusetts, the Puritan colonists immediately voted to tax themselves to fund schools; they wanted their children be able to read the Bible. Collecting taxes to support schools meant that every child would have the opportunity to an education even if their parents weren’t educated enough to provide it themselves or wealthy enough to send their children to a private school.
Taxes benefit the community by paying for services that no single person could afford. They finance roads, bridges, law enforcement, emergency responders and fire protection. They support schools, pay for public health and provide amenities that make a community a desirable place to live and raise a family. Good taxes are fair and reasonable.
Geographically speaking, Montezuma County is large, but we have a small tax base because of our population and the fact that two thirds of the land comprising the county include the Ute Mountain Ute sovereign nation and federal lands, which are not taxable.
Currently, the largest portion of county revenues come from oil and gas taxes, which have been, and will continue, to decline in the coming decades until they will no longer exist. The county also receives some revenues from property taxes; however, if you review your property tax bill, you will see that the lion’s share of these taxes go to other taxing entities. Grants generate some revenue and there are other miscellaneous sources; however, as the cost of providing services goes up, the harder it is going to be for the county to pay for the services the community has come to expect without finding additional revenue streams or cutting services.
Montezuma County is one of only four counties in Colorado that do not levy a county sales tax. The county commissioners are proposing a 1% sales tax to better fund county law enforcement, the jail and the Drug Task Force. This proposed tax is low, and it is fair with the added bonus that the thousands of tourists who visit and shop here will help pay for the public services we enjoy.
Voters will decide in November if this tax measure passes. The Montezuma County League of Women Voters supports this tax measure and is hosting a presentation at the Sunflower Theatre at 6 p.m. Oct. 15 for voters to learn more about the proposed sales tax. Plan to attend and ask questions. We believe that when you do, you will join us in voting “yes” on this ballot measure.
Connie Fox, LWVMZC Voter Services Chair
Karen Sheek, LWVMZC Chair
