Between high expectations for Keystone’s future and wariness about taxes, here are two good reasons to vote “yes” for Keystone ballot questions. 

A “yes” on ‘de-Brucing’ keeps every penny of revenue — grants, interest, sales tax — for the town’s purposes. That was the whole idea of establishing the town: local money, local decisions. 

De-Brucing releases the town from a single part of Colorado’s Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights. It means that unexpected revenue increases, like grants, will not trigger the TABOR formula that forces revenue bumps to be distributed to taxpayers. It means that unexpected revenue dips, like a weak sales tax year, won’t force a cut in services that can take years to recover from. Those reasons persuaded voters in almost all Colorado towns to get relief from the TABOR formula and keep all revenue for town purposes. 

A “yes” for ‘de-Brucing’ makes no change to the requirement that voters must approve new taxes. 

A “yes” on a 2% lodging tax will make as much as $2 million available for infrastructure and public safety projects that are above and beyond normal town operations. Visitors would pay $4 on a $200 lodging — sharing our area’s outdoor adventures and the infrastructure costs that enable them to access and safely enjoy them. 

The town is poised to address community wishes for improvements. Colorado will give a $100,000 matching-fund grant for Keystone’s comprehensive planning. The project will engage community members to identify and prioritize projects to improve safety and enjoyment while retaining the unique character we love about Keystone. 

The town of Keystone is a start-up operation. Every penny counts. The two Keystone ballot questions will keep all grant and tax money available for the big projects with big price tags.

Editor’s note: Carol Kerr is a member of Keystone Town Council but submitted this letter to the editor in an unofficial capacity.