Values & Vision
Small Business / Local Business
Jessika Buell will continue to bring to the Council her entrepreneurial experience as an employer and local business owner, as well as her out-of-the-box thinking which helped her businesses prosper over the past 10 years. Jessika is the owner and operator of two businesses in the City of Durango. She wants to use her business knowledge to help eliminate bureaucratic red tape and spur job creation.
Fiscal Conservatism / Financial & Budget Issues
I recognize the fiduciary obligations the city councilors are beholden to, and I aspire to be an example of responsible fiscal conservatism, transparent oversight and ethical adherence. My approach to the budgetary process and the subsequent oversight of the implementation of that budget by our city will be to ensure that every dollar is thoughtfully and appropriately utilized and accounted for. As a business owner, I’m well equipped to provide valuable insight and judicious oversight to the budgetary process.
One of a councilors priorities is passing a well balanced budget. I have been a part of passing 4 budegets since I have been on council. Creative, fiscally responsible budegets and budgets tied to our strategic plan.
What are some items I have been a part of and championed in the budgets I have passed:
1. Current council created the FAB board- the financal advisory board to solve this. Lets really consider their recommendations.
2. One of the biggest issues is that we are a sales tax dominate county. And as the internet continues to be a place people turn to to shop- we are losing sales tax revenue. It is a reality that every city in our country is facing. We are not alone. Which is why two things should be the focus of City council:
A- Promoting LOCAL shopping and local business support as much as possible. Partner with organizations like Local First and realizing how much the dollar when spent locally benefits us in so many ways. Sales tax, employment, our local businesses will put back into our community by donating to local non profits, etc…
B- Supreme court Wayfair decision requires internet companies to collect sales tax & revert taxes back. But CO is one of the hardest states to do this! We have over 600 taxing entities in our state. CO is in the process of trying to refine this to be aligned with Wayfair. Durango NEEDS to take a leadership role with this group.
Most communities and their basic services (police, streets, etc) are funded by property tax. In La Plata County we are one of the lowest in the state and country for property taxes, so we have to use sales tax for almost all of this. SO with our budget… I think we need to look at what we value. Do you value paved roads? Do we value attainable housing? Do we value sustainable growth?
Workforce/Affordable/Attainable Housing Opportunities
This is one of the big reasons I am running for City Council- I want my boys to be able to afford a home in Durango if they choose to work and live in Durango as adults. I do believe that the City supports and wants attainable housing. They support the Homes Fund, Loan programs & assistance, and created a very comprehensive housing plan that literally thought of everything. As a City Councilor, I will support this plan (of course) but more importantly, hold the planning department accountable for what is in there and following through with the plan. Because it is A LOT. And will require a lot of funding and creativity. One of the key elements to this being successful, is I believe WE NEED TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPERS TO BUILD ATTAINABLE HOUSING. Grants, programs, initiatives. We cant say we want attainable housing- we need to do it. Its easy to get behind glamorous projects like a new library or the shiny Durango Mesa development. But are we willing to spend money on the things we say we really need- like housing?
We have some dedicated taxes sunsetting in the future. Does the community think they will renew it to pay for affordable housing? To buy land for it? To provide incentives for developers to build it? We say we really value attainable housing and economic development…will we vote to potentially pay for it- Infrastructure, housing, business, transit? Those aren’t glamorous things… but they are essential to smart growth and remaining the Durango I fell in love with 19 years ago- a REAL town.
One of the core and critical elements of Durango’s character is that it’s a “real town” with a diverse and enriching spectrum of people and socio-economic realities. Our values are inclusive and our housing opportunities need to reflect the same. It’s critical that we make every effort as our community responds to change and growth to offer as many diverse housing opportunities as possible. One of the core and critical elements of Durango’s character is that it’s a “real town” with a diverse and enriching spectrum of people and socio-economic realities. Our values are inclusive and our housing opportunities need to reflect the same. Density issues, the comprehensive development plan, affordable housing initiatives, accessory dwelling units, parking requirements and other development and enforcement issues are going to be integral to shaping how our community grows, and if it provides for housing opportunities for the widest spectrum of our citizens as possible.
Smart Growth
“The only constant is change.” Though we may wish it wasn’t so sometimes, much of the challenge and opportunity facing our community is how to grow and change without drifting off course. I want our community to strive toward a sustainable purpose, to hope to become a place where my boys, and all of our other young community members, can reasonably consider living here if they want to. I want them to have opportunities for them to work in meaningful and rewarding careers, to have reasonable expectations to be able to afford housing, and the local cost of living at every stage of their lives. This is not growth at all costs. This is growth carefully fostered and guided by the core character elements of our community as foundational.
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