Montezuma County commissioners decided Monday to delay asking voters if they want a 1 percent sales tax to finance a $39 million broadband project for high-speed internet services.
County commissioners initially planned to have the sales tax question on the November ballot, along with a question to form a broadband authority to build and manage the new internet infrastructure.
But they learned last week they would miss a July 31 deadline to submit the project’s tax-supported financing plan to the Colorado Department of Revenue.
“We need more time to figure out the details,” said commissioner Keenan Ertel.
However, a question on whether to opt out of Colorado Senate Bill 152 will still be on the November ballot. Opting out of the state law would allow the county to build telecommunication infrastructure.
“We will back off the tax question and focus on SB152, because we can’t move forward without opting out,” said Jim McClain, information technology director for Montezuma County.
The commissioners are considering holding a special election in 2017 for the sales tax and broadband authority questions.
Officials said delaying the ballot question gives them breathing room for project planning.
“This will give us time to educate the public on what we are trying to accomplish,” McClain said.
Commissioner Larry Don Suckla also backtracked.
“Maybe we have not looked at all the options,” Suckla said. “This gives us time to think it over. Putting it out there like we did was worthwhile because it got people talking about it.”