Related Resources

Purpose of Funds

The City of Cañon City Council has proposed to voters a 1% increase in the City sales tax rate for the November 2016 election. The revenue generated from this sales tax will:

1. Solely be used by law for the purposes of repairing, reconstructing, and maintaining the streets in our City
2. Cannot be spent on increasing internal government spending
3. Will sunset in ten years
4. Will be subject to an independent audit and report that will be openly available to the public

Conditions of Roads

Based on a pavement study:

• 25% (25 miles) are satisfactory to excellent and only require on-going maintenance
• 67% (66 miles) of City streets are beyond basic repair and maintenance and require repair or complete reconstruction
• 8% (8 miles) are in fair condition

As a result, Cañon City’s streets have a very poor Pavement Condition Index (PCI) rating of 37 while the national average is 66. 

Allocation of Funds

Cañon City does have a current and detailed strategic plan to repair and reconstruct our streets up to national standards. It would cost the City 10 to 13 million dollars per year for the next 30 years to complete. In comparison the total general fund budget, for public safety, public works, operations, services, etc., is nearly an equal $11 million per year. A 1% sales tax increase would generate a $3.5 million per year fund exclusively dedicated to contracting out street repair and replacement projects in Cañon City.

Resources

The following are a number of educational charts and resources concerning the condition of our streets, plans, costs, and the 1% sales tax proposal:

• Ballot Question (PDF)
• Budget Pie Charts (JPG)
• 2016 City Street Conditions Map (PDF)
• Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association - Pavement Condition Summary 2016 (PDF)
• Classification of Pavement Quality (PDF)
• Highway Users Tax Fund Distribution (PDF)
• Major Thoroughfares Priority Reconstruction Plan (PDF)
• Pavement Deterioration versus Maintenance Curve (JPG): Preventive maintenance treatments performed systematically during the first 75% of the life span is key to providing the most cost-effective method for extending the life of a paved surface. Re-paving a street once it has deteriorated to an OCI of 25 or less requires costly treatments, such as full reconstruction, which may cost more than twice as much as the sum of the preventative treatments made during the same time period.
• Pavement Management Needs Summary and Priority Scenario (PDF)
• Pothole Example (JPG)
• Sales Tax Chart (JPG): A 1% sales tax would cost a median household income of $40,000 (that spends 20% locally on sales taxable items) $80 per year. Additionally, every county resident and tourist who shops at our stores and drives on our roads would also help pay to fix and maintain our streets.
• Spending by Lane Miles (JPG)
• Street Funding FAQs (PDF)