Vail – A record turnout of voters resoundingly turned down a second tax to build a conference center, three years after the first tax failed to keep up with construction and conception costs.
By a 806-542 count, residents rejected a 1.5 percent lodging tax, effectively scuttling the conference center approved by a scant 50 votes in 2002 but delayed by costs that exceeded the anticipated $45 million price tag.
“I was hoping we would win by a significant amount so it makes a fairly strong statement that it’s something the community is really not interested in,” said community activist Kay Ferry, an opponent of the measure.
Although outspent, opponents effectively pointed out that the center would require a public subsidy of about $1 million annually, that many costs were not yet included and that expectations of attracting large conventions – like the original cost projections – were overly optimistic.
“It’s hard to believe that the elected officials were so out of touch with the community on this,” said former Mayor Rob Ford, another opponent.
Proponents contended that a conference center would bring in $34 million annually in additional revenues, filtering through local businesses such as hotels and restaurants and supporting a greater year-round economy in the ski burg.
“It’s just a shame,” said Rob LeVine, general manager at the venerable Antlers Lodge and an ardent supporter of the measure. “It’s funny, but I’m glad it wasn’t close. The voters have spoken. That’s the way it is.”
With the failure of the measure, plans for the center will be killed entirely.
“What this means is we’ll have to go through a process now to either refund the estimated $7 million that’s been collected from the existing taxes … or go to the voters a year from now and ask for reauthorization to spend that money,” said town spokeswoman Suzanne Silverthorn.
Staff writer Steve Lipsher can be reached at 970-513-9495 or slipsher@denverpost.com.
