Residents of Monument will have the chance to vote this November on a proposed lodging tax that would fund repairs at the town’s parks.
The ballot question asks voters to consider a 5% lodging tax, which according to the town would generate about $220,000 in tax revenue per year.
Monument Mayor Mitch LaKind said the ballot initiative is an outcome of the municipality’s transition from a statutory town to home rule starting at the end of 2022, which allows the levying of this form of local sales tax.
The lodging tax would not far-reaching. Madeline VanDenHoek, Monument town manager, said the lodging tax would affect one hotel and two truck stops that charge for overnight parking. She said estimated revenue was based on past earnings for the businesses, which are clustered around the Monument exit of Interstate 25.
“Mostly people out of the town of Monument will be contributing to that,” said LaKind.
The revenue would be earmarked for bringing facilities up to Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and other improvements at places like Dirty Woman Creek and Limbach parks.
LaKind said the town’s parks have been overlooked in the budget for years.
“They’ve become somewhat dilapidated,” he said.
The tax could, if passed, eventually encompass proceeds from short-term rentals in the town. Monument does not technically class STRs as an allowed land use, but VanDenHoek said there have been no cases of enforcement. Popular vacation rental sites like Airbnb and VRBO show a handful of active listings within Monument town limits.
VanDenHoek said the town would need to pass an ordinance recognizing STRs as an allowed use before they could be included under the lodging tax requirements. LaKind said the idea was “up for discussion.”
The town would also need to explore ways to enforce the tax. LaKind said Monument may look into software other municipalities have used to identify STR listings.
While he felt the lodging tax would make sense for the town, LaKind said he was concerned a municipal ballot question might get lost among a long list of state ballot questions this year.
“People get voter fatigue,” said LaKind.
Also as an adjustment of the transition to home rule, Monument is fielding a second ballot question that would allow the town manager to live within the local zip code rather than in town limits only.
