Groups pushing for and against tax increase for roads

Colorado Springs voters will decide next month whether to approve a sales tax increase to be used for road repairs and improvements.

Issue 2C asks voters whether they would approve a .62 percent sales tax increase for road repair and improvements. It is expected to raise $50 million per year during the next five years. The sales tax would expire at the end of the year 2020.

The group Americans for Prosperity has argued the city has the money for road repairs, and the sales tax increase isn’t necessary.

“AFP-Colorado commissioned and presented a study of the city budget to the Mayor and the members of City Council, which outlined ideas about how the city could avoid a tax increase. It is our hope that city leaders will implement these changes in order to fix the infrastructure issues in Colorado Springs,” Michael Fields, AFP-Colorado State director said in a statement.

Springs Citizens Building the Future is the campaign committee pushing in favor of Issue 2C. Its members said if the money was available in the budget for road repairs, there would be no need to ask voters.

“If we could fix this through our general fund, all of us would want to come around and do that, but unfortunately it does take an influx of dollars to be able to fix this problem, that’s why we’re getting behind this measure supporting our mayor and city council,” said William Mutch, with Springs Citizens Building the Future.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.