Local government can't function without taxation.  Good governance, however, requires transparent and rational tax policy.  I believe that the need for revenue must be demonstrated, then the amount needed  must be presented and carefully evaluated.  Finally, the economic climate should recognized - we need to ask, "is this the right time?"

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Roads funding through sales and use tax-  City staff proposed a 1% increase in sales tax to fund roads maintenance.  Castle Pines never had a sustainable source of revenue for maintenance, which is why the roads deteriorated since original construction, so funding is needed.  Debt is never preferred, and property tax is a difficult burden to ask of residents.  Sales tax is more closely tied to the actual need because it is funded from retail and remote sales, car sales, and use tax - the uses of the road that make the repairs necessary.  Put differently, this form of taxation largely asks the users of the road to pay for increased wear and tear on the road.  In full honesty, this type of tax does get paid by our residents to some degree, through online sales and car sales.  But since this way of raising funds is directly related to the cost tied to the purpose, I believe it is a a rational basis for addressing the need.

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Transfer of 12 mills from CPNMD to the City- The City took over responsibility for the parks trails and openspace which the Metro District owns and maintained for many years.  The agreement by which this was done contemplates that the City will take full ownership, and that the tax revenue that funded CPNMD for this purpose be transferred to the City, either in 2023 or 2024  The question is, "how much is needed, and is it needed now?"  We haven't seen the bill of costs yet, or the inventory of property and project list for each parcel.  We also don't know if they need the full 12 mills that will be assessed on the current valuation - it will certainly be more tax revenue, but will it be more than is needed?  The math principal we learned long ago indicates that 40-60% increased property value multiplied by the same tax rate equals a 40-60% greater revenue outcome (x + 40% rate) x (static 12 mills) = 12x+40%.  In my checkbook, that's a taxation increase.  For most residents, it means $500 more per year in escrow (on top of taxes to other entities and insurance increases).  (For some residents, it will be a new tax entirely; for some residents, it will be a lowered tax.)  I can support a tax levy if there is a real need backed by an invoice, and the need for that increase is "now."  Unfortunately, in this case, we don't know the need without a project list, an invoice or estimate of costs, or any emergent need for these funds in the coming year.  Transferring a tax mill levy without doing the work to show how the increased funds will be spent is bad policy, and doesn't serve the City well.

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School bond and mill levy-  I worked for years with the DCSD Long Range Planning Committee, DCSD staff and City development staff to assess future overcrowding, school boundaries, and needs of current and new residents.  This work culminated in the DCSD plan for a new elementary school in Castle Pines within the 1-5 year capital plan - hard work that paid off.  Now, this new school needs to be funded, and DCSD needs bonds for this.  At the same time, our teachers on-the-ground, and the workers in the school building/transportation that make it a better place for our kiddos, deserve a better salary.  DCSD needs a mill levy override to afford all the salaries for this, plus the other salaries it wants to pay.  As always, the question is,  "How much is needed, what is the bill, and is it needed now?"  With this DCSD proposed tax bill costing at least $200 for most residents, I believe this is a personal decision that each household must asses on its own.  Some folks may want the building costs to include expansion of the Legacy Campus, and some may want the mid-level curriculum and supervisory staff to also receive pay increases.  For good reasons, DCSD asked Castle Pines Council to support these measures.  However, when presented with a resolution on the subject, we found that we were not asked to simply express our own views -- The resolution presented said Council wanted residents to vote yes.  In my view, this kind of measure to tell residents how to vote is not the proper role of government.  Your vote is your decision, and I won't tell you how to vote in November.

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I will ask for your vote in November.  And I will share all the information I have about the ballot.  I ask because I want you to make your own decisions.  I offer information because most people want some facts.

 

Even when I believe in a ballot measure, I will not use my public office to tip the scales, or tell you what to do.

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