In 2000, Longmont increased city sales and use tax by two-tenths of a cent, with all revenues allocated exclusively to open space. That tax is set to expire in 2034, at which point open space will lose this revenue source.
This measure would remove that sunset date and make the tax permanent. Longmont City Council unanimously approved a resolution urging residents to vote “yes” on this measure during an Aug. 27 meeting.
How much would taxes go up?
They would not; residents are already paying it.
If the measure doesn’t pass, sales tax would decrease by 2 cents per $10 purchase.
How much money would it raise?
The tax generates approximately $5 million annually, according to Longmont Open Space manager Danielle Cassidy.
What will it pay for?
The city’s open space department uses this revenue mostly to acquire and maintain property and fund land restoration and stewardship projects. Since the start of Longmont’s program, the city has acquired over 3,200 acres of open space across 30 properties.
The city declined to share a list of properties it hopes to acquire. Over the next two decades, Open Space hopes to develop and implement management and stewardship plans for each of its properties using this potential revenue.
Why this year?
While this ordinance would not expire for another nine years, Longmont Open Space wants to secure funds for future projects. “ Longmont’s Open Space program will soon transition from being focused mainly on acquisitions to restoring and stewarding the lands that we own,” Cassidy wrote in response to emailed questions.
Restoration and stewardship projects have lengthy timelines that extend past the current 2034 deadline. “They take planning, research, developing property management plans, budgeting and adaptive management over many years,” according to Cassidy.
Solidifying this revenue source now also provides job security for Open Space staff, the city argues. In 2025, the program hopes to hire a project manager and agricultural resource specialist to facilitate current and future stewardship projects. If the tax is made permanent, Open Space can hire staff long-term, rather than place a term limit on new positions.
Other things to consider:
- If this measure doesn’t pass, Longmont will not have a funding source for Open Space after 2034. In that case, the city’s general fund will likely be tapped to pay for maintenance.
- The current sunset date in 2034 potentially hinders the growth and maintenance of Longmont’s open space.
“There are both capital projects and acquisition opportunities that could be stalled or may need to be let go if Longmont’s Open Space Program does not secure funding,” Cassidy wrote. This could include greenway constructions, stewardship projects and future land acquisitions that won’t be available for another decade. - Given the long timeframe, the city would have more opportunities to pass an extension if this measure fails.
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