RTA board considering next steps toward asking for tax hike

Next phase is public outreach

The board of the Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority appears to be leaning toward putting a tax issue before voters next November. Exactly how much that sales tax increase initiative would ask for is still undecided, but the board feels confidant citizens will support a financial expansion of the RTA.

The RTA has hired consulting firm Magellan Strategies to walk them through the process of going from considering a tax increase to getting it passed. The firm conducted a survey and found that based on general information, about 60 percent of the 200 local people surveyed would be likely to vote for a new tax.
Part of that hypothetical approval is based on three primary improvements the board is considering. RTA executive director Scott Truex said the additional revenue could be used “to expand and enhance the current bus system, give us the ability to entice the airlines to fly here more both in the winter and in the summer, and potentially fund senior transportation in the city of Gunnison.”
Currently, there is a .35 percent sales tax in the city of Gunnison that funds the RTA. A .6 percent sales tax everywhere else in the county goes into the same fund. One idea is to ask voters to approve a 1 percent sales tax everywhere in the county for the RTA. That tax does not apply to grocery and energy sales.
 “The survey was step one and now the next step would be for the members of the board to get out in the community and provide education to the public about what the RTA does,” RTA air consultant Kent Myers explained at the board meeting on Friday, January 9. “Ultimately, a citizen’s committee has to take the idea and get it on the ballot. This board can’t do that.”
“There needs to be a grassroots education effort,” agreed David Flaherty of Magellan. “There has to be an organized effort at both ends of the valley. You want to kick the tires over the next six months and determine when you should go for it. It seems people are supportive and we are confident 2015 could work. “
Myers said attempting the ballot issue in 2015 or 2016 seemed to be the goal and the timing of either had pluses and minuses. “We have a good feeling about the success of a ballot issue based on the initial survey,” said Myers. “So 2015 could work. But 2016 would probably draw more voters, given it is a presidential election year. It would also allow more time for the education phase.”
“Another good thing is that in 2015 there doesn’t appear to be a lot of talk about other tax initiatives that would be competing,” said RTA board member Jonathan Houck. “Ideally, I’d prefer this one to be a stand-alone choice.”
Crested Butte mayor Aaron Huckstep said while no formal discussion or decision has been made, the Town Council is open to the idea of asking Crested Butte voters for a sales tax increase to support parks and recreation in the town. That type of initiative failed by three votes last November. Huckstep said some people have lobbied for an excise tax on marijuana being sold in town as well.
“I had been thinking that 2016 would be the right time but I am changing my mind,” said RTA chairperson Paula Swenson. “The information is showing that people are supportive of the RTA. Adding senior service is a plus. Strengthening the bus and ground transportation and expanding the air service are all pluses. In my opinion, I’d be leaning toward going this fall.”
“It seems we have momentum,” agreed board member Carolyn Riggs. “In 2016 there would probably be 20 or 25 percent more voters but we can get information out this spring and summer.”
“The RTA has gained the trust of the community and they believe in the services,” added Houck. “We would need to see how we structure the wording.”
Huckstep suggested the consultants conduct another quick survey to see if voters, especially those in Gunnison, would be amenable to equalizing the tax across the board at 1 percent. “We should determine if people would be willing to keep or change the differential,” Huckstep said.
Houck said the original split came because the original RTA was focused solely on air and the perception in Gunnison was that air service primarily benefited the northern part of the county. “I think that has changed and people see equal benefit through air and ground for the whole valley now,” Houck said.
Flaherty suggested that if the board wanted to pursue a ballot issue, they should conduct some public outreach over the next several months and then his firm would do another survey asking voters how much they would support a tax increase and whether Gunnison voters would support equalizing the tax. “Answers to those specific questions are very, very relevant but it probably makes sense to begin the education piece first,” Flaherty said. “You want to be able to back something that will pass.”
RTA executive director Scott Truex will begin investigating the legal questions concerning how to get an issue on the county ballot and will report back to the board.