I frequently hear the comment , "I do most of my shopping in Durango or Farmington." It is also quite common to hear people in the local business community complain about Cortez residents going out of town to do their shopping. On the other hand, we also hear locals grumbling about prices and the lack of service in Cortez.

Since Wal-Mart sells just about everything that there is to sell, there is no doubt that it is having an impact on the Cortez small businesses in particular. In view of the fact that a free and open society functions in a free and open market, ways need to be found to moderate the impact that large merchandise chains have on smaller, more vulnerable businesses, such as the family owned so-called "mom and pop" operation. Competition has however always been to the advantage of the consumer.

Most towns are faced with this same problem. In order to soften the impact the large merchandise chains and supermarkets have on small businesses, some towns have periodically solicited the collective advice and suggestions of local consumers. Town residents were asked to submit letters to the editor of the local newspaper expressing their own personal experiences with shopping out of town. Particular emphasis was placed on wear and tear on their vehicle, cost of fuel, time involved, their satisfaction, whether or not the same item was available locally, including a price comparison, and whether or not they felt the trip to be worthwhile. If the trip was combined with a visit to a relative or some other unrelated purpose, it was not considered to be a shopping trip.

Other towns have made price comparisons of sample baskets of food items and other merchandise in adjacent towns. The comparisons with their own town prices were then published in the local newspaper in order for the local consumers to judge whether a trip to one of the neighboring towns would be saving them money and worth the effort.

Most of the money we spend locally stays in Cortez. It creates employment and improves our services. It also encourages the service providers and retailers to improve their service. Not to be overlooked is the increase in our tax base where the money is used for improved infrastructure and amenities for the public.

WHEN YOU BUY

IN OTHER TOWNS

You help pay THEIR taxes

You help pay THEIR wages

You help pay THEIR bad debts

You help pay for THEIR improvements

You help make THEM prosperous

You rob your OWN TOWN of its progress, trade, upkeep and infrastructure.

Shopping locally is only a part of developing a more progressive tax base in Cortez. A more diversified job base with a higher wage structure is also essential to providing a decent quality of life for the residents of Cortez. If the present job base is not significantly improved over the next few years, we will most certainly see boarded-up small businesses in the downtown area and an out-migration from Cortez.