City Council Officially Approves 0.14% Sales Tax Hike for Rec Center Funding

Story By: Jaren Reece, Housing Editor

Photos By: Jaelyn Kenton and Riley Simianer

The Grand Junction City Council met on the first wednesday in May and one of the topics of discussion was whether or not the tax rate should be amended in order to make way to build a new community center. 

The specific topic of discussion was the ordinance amending Section 3.12.030 of Chapter 3 of Grand Junction’s Municipal Code; it concerns the imposition, collection and enforcement of both the sales tax and use tax. The legislative hearing was held after the conclusion of the council reports and consent agenda and was introduced by Mayor Anna Stout and proceeded by City Attorney John Shaver. Shaver was author of the ordinance in question and therefore brought it before the council to make a judicial decision. The basis of the ordinance was to raise the sales tax and use tax so that the city may begin to raise funds for a brand new community center. 

Shaver made the recommendation to pass and adopt Ordinance No. 5141, a proposition that would increase the tax rate by .14% in order to construct a new indoor public recreation center at Matchett Park. This increase would be added on to the existing sales and use tax rate of 3.39%, a rate that was voted on and increased upon during the April 4th elections just a month ago. This rate will go into effect on July 1st of 2023. 

The council’s vote was unanimous, tallying seven votes to none to pass the ordinance. On top of that, the council’s decision was swift, the entirety of the meeting was acted upon and concluded in less than five minutes. The enthusiastic concluding statement from Mayor Anna Stout was “Let’s get working on a community center, huh?” The rec center is set to open in late 2025. 

Council member Jason Ngyuen proposed the only question in regards to the ordinance. “In terms of the ordinance, because on the ballot measure, there was a sunset night, and I did notice that the sunset specified an ordinance and I was wondering if it’s normal to not include that,” said Ngyuen. 

Shaver responded by saying that because it was specified in the ballot question, it would not be included in the ordinance but that there was a provision in the ordinance that specifies that the tax will be subject to voter approval. 

Attorney Shaver also was able to mention that the wheels are already turning on the project and licenses are already being obtained. “Our finance colleagues, like I mentioned, are doing outreach to contractors and licensees just to give them the effective date of the proposition and when we want to start moving on this thing” said Shaver. “After July 1st, there will be more meetings to discuss the special revenue fund and any other questions that they might have regarding the allocation and use of those funds.” 

​It makes a council member’s day when they face simple topics such as this in their agenda. Soon enough, thanks to the admissions of the council, the city of Grand Junction will have a brand new rec center in Matchett Park.