Dear Editor,

No matter what else happens, one thing is certain in 2024. Property taxes for homeowners, and rents for renters will skyrocket. Just because market forces have increased Colorado property values doesn’t mean we have more income to pay those taxes. Very few will get a 20% raise in 2024. On November 7, we’ve a rare and golden opportunity to take some control, holding back those increases just a little. Vote NO on Ballot Issue 6A, Nederland EcoPass Public Improvement District Extension (Ned EcoPass).

The Ned EcoPass, providing “free” (ie. taxpayer subsidized) RTD rides to residents of the Nederland Library District, was created in 2013. It seemed a good idea to 54% of voters, and is no longer needed.

According to the Clerk and Recorder’s Notice of Election, our BOT supports extension of the tax and the community supports it “because of the success of the program thus far”. I call “BS”.

RTD reported 380 trips/day on the Ned EcoPass in 2018. (RTD uses a 300 day year, due to low ridership on weekends.) In the pandemic year of 2020, the most recent year ridership statistics are available, Ned EcoPass ridership understandably dropped to 116 trips/day. In both years about 36% of trips were on the NB route between Nederland to Boulder. Other trips were around Boulder, to Denver or the airport, etc. Assuming most people who leave Nederland via RTD will return home on the bus, 68 people per day used their Ned EcoPass in 2018. There are 8 buses in each direction between Nederland and Boulder. A mean of only 4.2 Ned EcoPass riders were on each bus.

Taxes should support the general public welfare. Taxes for police, fire, streets, parks, schools, and libraries meet that criteria. The Ned EcoPass does not. It benefits a handful of people at the expense of many. As of February 2022, there were 1865 active Ned EcoPasses. Obviously, most pass holders just got one because it was “free” and seldom if ever used it!

With RTD’s new fares, bus tickets are affordable for all. Fares are heavily subsidized by the property taxes we pay to RTD. The reduced fares for Seniors, people with disabilities and of low income are really inexpensive. Youth, age 19 and under ride for “free” through August 2024. Surely the “free” youth rides will be extended - when has an entitlement ever gone away?

With my Medicare card, I can ride RTD around Boulder and Denver all day for $3.00 - less than a latte at the Train Cars. For $5.25, less than a half sub at The Deli, I can go to DIA. For the price of a Crosscut Pizza and two beers, I can ride RTD 7/24 for a month!

Most riders on the “NB’’ are morning and afternoon commuters, between home and jobs or school. Many mid-day buses are empty or nearly so. Ned parents who send their kids to Boulder schools, as is their absolute right, get “free” passage for youth under 19 from our RTD taxes. Many of the regular commuters can get Eco-Passes through their employers. In today’s labor market few employers wouldn’t buy bus tickets to hire or retain reliable employees. No adult in Boulder County should work for less than $18/hr, and even if an employer refused, $117 for a monthly pass is cheaper than driving a car. I’d commute to my job on RTD if it could get me to Boulder by 5 a.m. (it can’t), and my employer would pay for it.

If you can afford airfare, you can afford a bus ticket to DIA. If you can afford a lift ticket, you can afford a bus ticket to Eldora. If you want to ride the bus to Boulder a couple times a month to shop or for appointments - you can afford a bus ticket.

6A proponents tout a new provision, ostensibly benefiting Nederland businesses, providing the Ned EcoPass to non-resident employees. That is completely redundant and a duplicative tax. Read page 22 of your Notice of Election, Recitals G & H. Good grief, without 6A, the County will already cover 60% of the cost of employer Eco-Passes. The business only pays $919.00 (tax-deductible) for Eco-Passes for 1 -20 employees. This isn’t 2013. People aren’t working in Boulder County for $10 - $12. In this labor market, even small businesses can afford that deal to get reliable employees.

The Ned EcoPass hasn’t reduced traffic in the canyon, any perceived benefit being overwhelmed by population growth and empty mid-day buses. Unfortunately, any environmental benefit of reduced emissions is obliterated by empty/near empty buses. The Ned EcoPass is not saving the planet.

So, vote No on 6A. Saving $12 on $100k of assessed value isn’t huge - but it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. While you are at it - vote No on HH, the legislature’s bait and switch to undermine TABOR - our only defense against tax and spend politicians.

Tell the Governor and Legislature to give us a clean property tax relief in 2024.

Dean Rundle

Nederland