Mayor: Pot to fix potholes isn’t the solution
Cars continued to collide with potholes on Wednesday and the problem has now become a top priority for newly sworn-in Mayor John Suthers.
The city estimates that 60 percent of its roads need to be repaired as potholes continue to plague its streets.
Suthers talked about his plan on Tuesday to propose a half-cent sales tax to generate $40 million dollars that would go toward roads.
Drivers desperate for solutions have also thrown out the idea of allowing marijuana pot sales in the city and applying money generated from those taxes to fixing potholes.
Suthers said that idea wouldn’t bring in enough green. He pointed to lower-than-expected sales tax revenue generated from retail marijuana across the state.
“Someone could do an initiative saying, all proceeds have to go to roads. And I just don’t want people to think it would solve all of our problems. We cannot raise the type of money we need,” said Suthers.
Suthers’ said he’s looked over the options and stands behind the idea of a half-cent sales tax.
“At the pace we are at, we will never really deal with the problem so we have to accelerate it,” said Suthers.
Colorado Springs City Council also needs to get on board with the half-cent sales tax because it’s members will ultimately determine if it goes on the ballot. City Council must approve of the ballot measure by July 24 in order to make it on November’s ballot.
Former City Council President and current member Keith King said he is open to the idea.
“I don’t like any tax increases, I didn’t vote for it in the Legislature but this is a situation I think we have to take care of,” said King.
The election is months away and if voters approve of the measure, it would still take time before money started to come in. In the meantime, Suthers said the city will continue to repair roads at its current rate.
“Even if the voters approve this, the money would come in at a pace that we would spend it as it comes in,” said Suthers.
It will take time to improve conditions for drivers on the road.
“People have to understand, it took 15 years to create this problem and it’s not going to be solved overnight,” said Suthers.
Suthers plans to meet with City Council to present his ideas on fixing city infrastructure on June 12.
