Cortez voters may be asked in 2018 whether they want to continue paying a sales tax to fund the city’s recreation center into the future.
At the council workshop Tuesday, City Manager Shane Hale said the current tax of 0.55 cents, about half a penny on a dollar, is slated to expire in 2021 when the bond is paid off. Hale said the tax provides about half the facility’s operating costs and without it, users might have to pay $8 a visit. Council members agreed keeping fees reasonable is critical to the center’s survival. While making no final decision, they agreed to have staff work on a preliminary proposal asking voters to approve a permanent but smaller tax of 0.35 cents.