The roads in Colorado Springs are terrible. They are so bad that an independent transportation research group recently found that more than 70 percent of our roads are in “poor or mediocre shape.”

The state of our roads is not just a nuisance; it is costing families serious money. The average driver in Colorado Springs spends over $200 more per year than the average American driver for vehicle operating costs because they drive on deteriorated roads. From tire blowouts to busted tie rods, the potholes and poorly paved roads in this city are causing significant safety issues for our residents, and it is only getting worse.

When I ran for mayor this year, voters consistently told me that getting our roads repaired was their No. 1 priority. I ran on a commitment to get our roads fixed, and you are now voting on a plan that the City Council and I are proposing to do just that. Our plan is on the ballot as Issue 2C – it is a small sales tax increase that will go solely to fund roads and goes away in five years. The cost is less than $10 per month for the average Springs resident, and groceries, gas, utilities and prescription drugs are exempt from the tax. Issue 2C has been structured to minimize costs to our families while maximizing our ability to fix our roads.

Issue 2C will not fund a single new city employee – all the work will be done by the private sector. It also won’t create debt.

Some opponents of our plan believe it is better to rack up debt to pay for our roads. That’s the kind of irresponsible thing that Congress would do, and I won’t be part of it. Others say we should raise property taxes or take away property tax exemptions from churches or nonprofits. In general, a property tax increase is a bad way to pay for roads. Business travelers and tourists don’t pay their fair share.

The reason I am asking voters to approve Issue 2C is that I have made significant cuts in the city budget to pay for stormwater and flood mitigation efforts, which we are legally required to do, and there are simply not enough funds in the budget to significantly reduce our backlog of road repairs.

If approved, the limited and small increase will go away entirely in five years, and it will be used exclusively for road repairs.

It will also not only be paid for by Springs residents – nearly 40 percent of the tax will be paid for by tourists and out-of-town residents who shop in our city.

Fixing our roads is not only a way to reduce the cost to drivers; it is an investment in the future of our city. Better infrastructure will make it easier to recruit companies to relocate to Colorado Springs and persuade existing companies to expand.

One Realtor told me that when they show properties in Colorado Springs to potential buyers, they map out a route that avoids the worst potholes. If we get our roads repaired, that Realtor can instead map out a route that showcases our gorgeous scenery, rather than trying to hide our horrendous roads.

For everyone who has blown a tire, busted a tie rod or crashed a bike from hitting a pothole, it is time we get our roads fixed.

Less than $10 a month will go a long way to getting our roads back on track.

The City Council and I would be honored if you would stand with us to get Colorado Springs moving again by voting yes on 2C.