Pitkin County voters are being asked to reauthorize the Open Space and Trails program. In the past, strong majorities of voters have supported this tax. This year, some residents have concerns about the program’s focus and direction.
Open Space and Trails board member Howie Mallory has a question for recreationalists:
“Where are you going running today? Gonna run down 82?” Mallory laughed.
Probably not. Runners, hikers, cyclists, and nature enthusiasts all rely on Pitkin County Open Space and Trails' properties. The 25-year-old program manages more than 20,000 acres and 70 miles of trails, and in the coming days, voters will decide whether to continue the property tax that funds the organization for the next 20 years.
The program’s budget varies with changes in property values, but the tax has the potential to bring in about a quarter of a billion dollars over that period, which has raised some eyebrows.
Mallory has served on the board for a decade, and he is heading up fundraising efforts to pass ballot question 1A.
“That does appear to be a lot of money, but we’ve created long-term assets, trails and open space, and they require care and attention over these next twenty years,” Mallory said.
The program has also made some changes to its charter. It will now dedicate more funding to maintenance and stewardship of properties, between 15 and 35 percent. This revision means that between a quarter and 75 percent of the revenue is set aside for buying land. The remainder is dedicated to building trails.
Old Snowmass resident Jennifer Long said that this change — as well as recently constructed trails — shows that the program is moving away from its previous focus on land conservation.
“I am enjoying a lot of my open spaces that I have been visiting for many years less with mountains bikes coming charging down the trails at me,” Long said. “I would like the focus to remain on acquiring open space.”
Long will vote against reauthorization this year; she said she’s concerned that shifting money toward stewardship could mean more trails through sensitive lands. Program officials said that move is actually necessary to continue maintaining open spaces, restoring wildlife habitat, and other key functions like Nordic trail grooming.
Local biologist Lisa Tasker said many recently built trails pose a threat to area wildlife.
“We’re all very happy to have the trails, we love them, we enjoy them. But most people don’t have any idea that there are some pretty big impacts associated with them,” Tasker said. “There needs to be more of a voice for wildlife and habitats.”
Open Space and Trails adopted a biodiversity policy earlier this summer, which identifies preserving habitat as the program’s first priority. Still, Tasker says that without a wildlife biologist on staff, the makeup of the department favors trails over wildlife. A long-time supporter of Open Space and Trails, she said she’s on the fence about this reauthorization vote.
“You know, 20 more years of the exact same funding? That’s looking way out into the future,” Tasker said. “Now we need to, I think, step back and reassess what the goals are of open space.”
Mallory said those goals are clear.
“We think over 25 years, we’ve been able to preserve those expectations of quality of lifestyle, preserve the wildlife habitat, and also benefit the economy because people want to be in a nice place,” he said.
According to Mallory, the biodiversity policy reflects a commitment to protecting wildlife and landscape above all else, and people have to use the land to want to conserve it.
“I think it’d be really difficult to sell open space if all you could do was drive down 82 and look at it,” Mallory said. “You know, you never got out of your car and walked on it. If you really want to preserve your public lands, you have to put people on them. ”
The Steward Open Space (SOS) committee has raised nearly $5,000 for the passage of issue 1A, including contributions from several board members and Pitkin County commissioners, along with commissioner candidate Scott Writer. The committee has spent about $2500 on advertising and over $1000 on campaign coordination and food.
Open Space and Trails’ current funding authorization runs through 2019. If this ballot initiative fails, the program can put it back on the ballot before then.
Ballots have been mailed, and the last day to vote is Nov. 8.
