Alamosa council forms citizen street advisory committee as city plans 2026 street-tax renewal
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Summary
City staff told council the half-cent dedicated street sales tax generates roughly $2 million a year, covers a prioritized list of reconstruction and maintenance projects, and that council unanimously approved Resolution 17-2025 to form a citizen street advisory committee to guide a proposed 2026 renewal on the ballot.
Alamosa City Council voted unanimously Nov. 5 to establish a citizen street advisory committee as officials begin planning a renewal of the half-cent dedicated street sales tax for the Nov. 2026 ballot.
City Manager Heather told the council the existing sales tax, approved previously with a 10-year sunset, is dedicated 100% to identified street projects and would be proposed again with another 10-year sunset that would take effect Jan. 1, 2030. Staff estimated the extension would generate a little more than $2,000,000 annually.
Heather and street-program staff said the city manages more than 64 miles of roads (about 60 paved, four unpaved) and that roughly a quarter of streets need full reconstruction. Staff said an average reconstruction now costs about $540,000 per block, compared with roughly $300,000 when the tax was first approved; overlays cost about $69,000 per block and slurry seals about $27,000.
To increase public accountability, staff described a plan to revitalize the citizen-street committee with two residents from each ward, two at-large residents, two representatives from major employers/economic development/the chamber, a youth representative, a county representative and a representative from the Alamosa School District bus drivers. The committee will review priorities and recommend the list of streets to be locked into the ballot-resolution language.
Councilor Carson emphasized public participation and urged residents to engage beyond public comment. Councilor Jan Vigil moved to adopt Resolution 17-2025 establishing the committee; the motion passed unanimously.
The council directed staff to advertise committee openings and provide an online application through the city clerk's office. Staff said they will include application deadlines in the posting and encouraged council members to recruit applicants.
Next steps: staff will form and advertise the committee, compile its recommendations and include the final project list in the ballot language as part of the city's accountability commitments to voters.