A candidate for Cortez City Council says rebuilding trust in city government should begin with clearer communication with residents.
Travis Shepherd is running for a seat on the Cortez City Council in the upcoming municipal election. During an interview with KSJD, Shepherd pointed to a recent city tax issue as an example of why transparency matters.
The city recently collected more recreation sales tax than intended after the rate was not adjusted as planned. City officials have proposed temporarily suspending the tax this coming winter to return the excess revenue to residents.
Shepherd says improving communication between city leaders and the public could help prevent similar problems and reduce community frustration.
“We do need transparency. We need people to communicate,” Shepherd said. “I think when you get on the city council, you get so much pushed at you that people close up and they don’t talk. We have to do a better job of being transparent and communicating.”
He said the proposed tax holiday appears to be a practical solution because Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights makes it difficult to impossible to reallocate the funds to another area. It would also be difficult to refund individual taxpayers.
“If they’re going to refund it back, the tax holiday is the best thing,” Shepherd said.
Beyond the tax issue, Shepherd said one of the biggest long-term challenges facing Cortez is housing affordability. He pointed to demographic trends showing fewer younger residents and said the local job market and housing costs can make it difficult for people to settle in the community.
“We have to grow,” Shepherd said. “The job economy is not good enough for somebody to go out and buy a house. We need to find some affordable apartments.”
Shepherd said he would like to see Cortez attract new industry and development while maintaining the small-town character that draws many people to the area.
He also emphasized the importance of collaboration between the city, Montezuma County, and neighboring communities, including the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, saying cooperation is necessary for economic development and infrastructure planning.
The Cortez municipal election is scheduled for April 7. Residents can find information about voting through the city’s election website.
A forum managed by the Montezuma County League of Women Voters with the 11 candidates running for 5 open seats will occur on Wednesday, March 11th from 6 to 8pm at City Council Chambers at Cortez City Hall.
