The Jefferson County Commissioners are now listening to the voters. They have to under the Colorado Constitution. They need your vote to keep your excess tax money.
Here is the board packet that contains the proposed ballot question. The staff memo, followed by the actual ballot question, begins at page 20:
https://www.jeffco.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232019-807
Strangely, the list of items to be funded by keeping the excess money begins with three specific areas – public safety, roads, facilities and then ends with “providing services to the people of Jefferson County”.
Since everything the County spends money on is to “provide services to the people of Jefferson County” I think it is safe to say that the excess money will be spent on whatever the three commissioners decide to spend it on.
Note, that unlike the recent City of Lakewood ballot issue, this proposed request for permission from the voters to keep the extra money is not limited to a number of years – it is forever.
Now to be sure, this measure will be a referendum. The commissioners will hear from the voters about whether or not the commissioners have been responsible in making taxing and spending decisions. Whether or not the voters are comfortable giving the three commissioners a blank check as to the excess tax revenue.
We should think about it, talk about it and share our points of view.
Right off, I am not very supportive.
1. The commissioners aggressively opposed Lakewood 200 with TV adds and glossy brochures. They are clearly enthusiastic supporters of having the developer community, not the citizens, make public policy regarding growth in our community.
Based upon their actions, I have to expect they will continue to subsidize private development with our taxes.
2. The commissioners refuse to aggressively seek repayment of the taxpayer loan to the Three Dinos – used to build the C-470 Alameda Interchange and enrich the Three Dino developers.
The commissioners support the idea of allowing the Three Dinos to “repay” the loan, not from their own profits, but from taxes on future residents. They support repaying the taxpayer loan to the developers of Dinosaur Ridge – with more taxes.
Based upon their actions, I have to expect they will continue to subsidize private development with our taxes.
3. The commissioners significantly increased the valuation of our homes – for no appreciable reason, other than to increase the property tax.
Based upon their actions, I have to expect that, as with the weak justification presented as part of the ballot, they will not be very transparent in disclosing how they plan to spend this extra money.
But, there is still time for these commissioners to explain why and persuade us that they really do intend to “provide services to the people of Jefferson County”.
Actions speak louder than words. To this point there has been a lot of “servicing”, but not so much for the people. And so far their message -loud and clear – has been that the citizens do not have a seat at the table – particularly when it comes to land use planning and the preservation of Dinosaur Ridge.
Until now. Now they want our permission. Now they want our vote. Now that they are listening. It is the time for us to speak, again.
Loudly.
John Henderson