Puebloans to decide on tax initiatives

The total sales tax in the city of Pueblo may be going up next year.

Voters will soon decide whether to approve a 1-cent countywide tax for a new jail, and whether to renew a half-cent sales tax to create jobs.

Puebloans have mixed opinions on the proposals, and whether they feel overtaxed.

“Anymore [taxes and] it’s whether I buy groceries or buy my medicine,” said Francisco Espinoza, who lives in the city.

Samantha Rothschild, who also lives in the city, sees it differently. “I wouldn’t agree that we’re overtaxed necessarily,” she said.

Lisa Atteberry supports a new tax to build a jail. She works there as a detention specialist and said it’s in bad shape.

“It’s simply a safety issue for everybody involved, especially our deputies. We have some issues in there — infrastructural with the plumbing, electricity, that kind of thing, locks on doors,” Atteberry said.

The total sales tax in the city of Pueblo is 7.4 percent. Here’s how it breaks down: 3 percent city sales tax, half-cent job creation tax, 1 percent county tax and 2.9 percent state tax.

If the 1-cent jail tax is approved and voters renew the half-cent tax for jobs, the total sales tax paid in the city will be 8.4 percent.

Rod Slyhoff, president and CEO of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, is leading the effort to renew the sales tax for jobs. He’s optimistic the majority of voters will support it.

“I’m a young adult and my husband and I just moved back here,” Rothschild said. “We would love to see other young adults move into the area because the job is market is good.”

But others are adamantly against the tax.

“Where are the jobs?,” Espinoza asked. “There are no jobs in Pueblo. If there is, it’s minimum wage.”

There are 90,000 active registered voters in Pueblo County, according to clerk Gilbert “Bo” Ortiz. Ballots will be mailed out in two weeks.