Endorsement: Yes on Winfield sales tax increase for roads

Winfield is asking for approval to begin collecting a .25 percent sales tax with the intention of paying for road repairs. Half of Winfield’s roads are deemed by the state to be in fair to failing condition. Yet voters in 2010 and 2012 rejected requests to raise property taxes for roads as the funding became mired in politics over Roosevelt Road development and outsourcing police services. This request aims to move toward a road-repair solution without addressing everything at once. Winfield doesn’t collect a local sales tax, while neighboring towns take between .75 percent and 1.25 percent. Winfield’s proposed increase would bring in about $75,000 annually, when officials estimate nearly $1 million a year is needed to repair the worst roads and follow a maintenance schedule. This is likely the first of four identical requests Winfield expects to put to voters. Yes, it is a first step and a small step at that, but it is a step in the right direction and deserves voters’ support. We recommend a YES vote.