Longmont City Council will get an idea of what recreational and cultural facility work the public would be willing to support with their tax dollars on Tuesday.
Magellan Strategies will make a presentation about the results of a demographically representative survey of voters to determine community desire for various facilities, including voter appetites to pay additional taxes to fund the projects.
The city has expressed desire to invest in various projects with a tax question that may go to voters this November. The survey gauged public interest investing into a new Longmont Library location, funding parks and recreation facilities, building an arts and entertainment center and/or capital updates and remodel work on existing facilities.
According to presentation slides in the city council packet, 70% of Longmont residents ranked the Longmont Library as one of the top three most valuable facilities in the city with all but 20% of residents using the library at least once a year.
A new library branch saw the strongest support for a tax increase with 60% of those surveyed saying they would vote yes. There was also majority support for a new recreation center, a center for arts and entertainment and a museum expansion.
Residents surveyed were also in favor of Union Reservoir Enhancements and completing Dry Creek Park through a tax increase. The majority of voters additionally said they would vote yes on a renovation project at the Longmont Recreation Center, while most opposed work at the Centennial Pool Facility that would include the removal of the pool.
Themes that emerged from the thoughts shared from respondents included about 15% asking that taxes not be raised as the general cost of living is already too high. Several also asked to keep the Centennial Pool and others asked for more investment in north Longmont.
At Tuesday’s meeting, council will discuss these results and give staff direction on which projects to move forward, if any, along with any additional information on what issues to put on November’s ballot. After that is determined, staff will begin preparing ballot wording.
