Here we are again. We’re facing another potential renewal of the “Pothole Tax” through the 2C ballot measure. It will be on the November ballot.
The 2C tax, first passed by voters in 2015 and renewed in 2019, is a 5.7 cent sales tax on every $10 purchase. It was marketed to the public to fix potholes and maintain the city’s roads.
Data from the city’s 2C website shows a significant shift in how the funds are being allocated. In 2019, 53% of 2C spending went to asphalt for road repairs, while 38% went to concrete projects like curbs, sidewalks, and gutters.
But in the years 2020-2023, the numbers have changed dramatically. Concrete projects now account for 57.25% of 2C spending, while asphalt for roads has dropped to just 33.05%. The remaining 9.7% goes to inspection, staffing, and material testing.
The roads remain pock-marked with potholes and craters and are still not up to snuff as many roads continue to rattle motorists’ vehicles.
In 2023, city officials reminded us that they are repaving public roads stretching from Athens, Georgia to Athens, Greece. Meanwhile, officials tell us we must renew the tax just to maintain the roads.
It would be reasonable to expect that the majority of the 2C tax revenues are going to fix the roads since the tax is marketed as the “Pothole Tax”. That’s not what’s happening, though.
Why is the majority of 2C funding being spent on concrete projects?
Material costs?
We wondered if the change was due to increases in the price of materials. Concrete and asphalt have both gone up in price, just like the food in your grocery cart. From 2021 to 2023 concrete prices went up by 21.81%. From 2021 to 2023, asphalt prices increased by 70.01%. So, price increases alone don’t explain why the city is spending so much more on concrete projects.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance?
In 2018, the city was sued for not being in compliance with ADA laws. The lawsuit was settled. At the time, a city press release said. “The City has been performing record numbers of ramp and sidewalk improvements, funded in large part by the 2015 voter-approved 2C sales tax measure.” Concrete projects now take the bulk of the 2C tax revenue and our roads continue to suffer.
Our Take
We have an idea. Let’s change the city’s 2C marketing messaging and call it the “Curbs, Sidewalks, and Gutters Tax” instead of the “Pothole Tax”. It’s a much better explanation for where your tax dollars are going. They need to fix the ballot language and be honest and transparent with voters. It’s a tax you are paying to get the city into compliance with ADA laws. That’s what the ballot issue should say. This ruse that the ballot issue is to repair our roads no longer holds water. The numbers don’t lie.
The City Council and the mayor need to spell out that 2C is a tax increase and let voters know what percentage is being spent on asphalt projects versus concrete projects. Reach out to city council members. It’s time for some transparency with voters.
Mayor Yemi Mobolade yemi.mobolade@coloradosprings.gov
Yolanda Avila Yolanda.Avila@coloradosprings.gov
Lynette Crow-Iverson lynette.crow-iverson@coloradosprings.gov
Dave Donelson Dave.Donelson@coloradosprings.gov
Randy Helms Randy.Helms@coloradosprings.gov
Nancy Henjum Nancy.Henjum@coloradosprings.gov
David Leinweber david.leinweber@coloradosprings.gov
Mike O’Malley Mike.OMalley@coloradosprings.gov
Brian Risley brian.risley@coloradosprings.gov
Michelle Talarico michelle.talarico@coloradosprings.gov
4 thoughts on ““Pothole Tax” Funds Used Primarily for Curbs, Sidewalks, and Gutters”
Trying to contact city council is like trying to call cspd and aboit as good too . Let’s do away with springs city streets and replace this department with Schidt and EEE construction and have them do all road maintenance yr round with a contract. As of 11 yrs ago all the city knows how to do is hold their hand out. That don’t know what preventive measures are . But they know how to spend money . Let’s put a stop on all new money going in to the city government. Let’s try and get a walk in vote made legal only . No ballets mailed in and the voter must have a picture I.D. with proff where they were born . This State and our city are stealing us blind every chance they get . No on any new tax for the state or Colorado Springs.
I would very curious to know how much of the general fund, in terms of percentages and gross dollars, has been allocated, by year, to city streets maintenance since the passage of 2C. I suspect, but can’t prove, that instead of being supplemental dollars to street maintenance budget, the pothole tax has become the replacement dollars, so the original dollars can be spent on programs more politically favored (boondoggles).
I pay $8 a month on my utility bill for storm water “fee”. This storm water fee is designed to fix curbs, gutters and sidewalks as well as designing drainage…like down US 24 which recently flooded AGAIN! The people of Colorado Springs are being fleeced, AGAIN! BTW $200+ million is missing if the city has collected $500 million that repaired only 1900 lane miles at $140,000 a mile ($266 million). This is using the city numbers. https://coloradosprings.gov/public-works/page/what-2c
Sounds like the city should be sued for fraud, seeing as they call this is the ‘pothole tax’, but is being used for something other than potholes.