Fountain voters will decide next month whether to approve a sales tax increase that officials say would help fund an increasing need for road maintenance and expansion projects.

As part of the Nov. 7 coordinated election, the city of Fountain will bring before voters the question of membership in the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, which collects a 1% sales tax that pays for some of the region’s largest road extensions, maintenance and expansion. Despite being the region’s second-largest municipality, Fountain is not a member of the PPRTA, whose tax revenues currently benefit Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Manitou Springs, Green Mountain Falls, Ramah and Calhan.

Ballots for the Nov. 7 election will be mailed to voters on Monday.

According to a city survey of about 750 Fountain residents in March, most public feedback from those both for and against the move agreed on perceived poor road quality in the city, but residents have differed on how maintenance should be funded.

Some residents have voiced concern that their tax dollars could not be guaranteed to return to Fountain or that officials would put that money toward uses other than roads. Those residents have also said they believe the road quality within Colorado Springs and other existing PPRTA member municipalities does not differ from those in Fountain, and called for finding alternative means of funding road maintenance, such as staff salary cuts.

Resident Fran Carrick cited rising costs of living and gas expenses, and urged the city to live within its means, as residents must.

“People are struggling, inflation is out of control,” Carrick said at a recent City Council meeting. “The council needs to be in touch with the citizens in Fountain … before you ask for this tax increase.”

Boundaries between PPRTA-funded areas and the city of Fountain. Dark blue areas show land that was annexed from PPRTA-funded El Paso County by Fountain.

Courtesy of the city of Fountain

Those in support of joining PPRTA have cited minimal cost to taxpayers relative to benefits of road improvements, and the city’s Finance Department estimates that Fountain residents pay over $1.2 million in sales tax that is not returned to the city, because it is not a PPRTA member.

One resident said that while he does not favor most tax increases, the 1% sales tax could be much less than the hundreds of dollars one might spend to replace or realign tires after traveling on poor road conditions.

“Yes, the 1% can add up but it’s not going to add up to the additional cost that somebody (may not be able to afford) to get their vehicle to work because of (potholes),” the resident said at the meeting.

If residents were to pass the potential ballot measure, a 1% sales tax rate could generate an estimated $3.8 million annually that would go to the PPRTA; however, Fountain would receive $3.5 million in return for street capital projects and another $2 million for maintenance, Fountain Mayor Sharon Thompson previously told The Gazette.

By joining PPRTA, accrual of funds in coming years would allow the city to chip away at an estimated $50 million to $75 million backlog in unfunded street maintenance and capital projects as well as prepare for future growth, survey documents said. 

Officials have said it would prioritize improving and maintaining existing infrastructure first, including resurfacing or rebuilding Fountain Mesa Road, Cross Creek, Crest Drive and Ohio Avenue, as well as benefit the region by streamlining funding and collaboration on projects shared by both the city and El Paso County, like Marksheffel Road.