Former councilman questions NY trip, sales tax measure

The perception persists that money from a proposed sales tax increase will go to a new museum and other venues instead of solely for street and road improvements in Colorado Springs.

Joel Miller, a former councilman, issued an email to the media Thursday, indirectly defending current Councilwoman Helen Collins and former state legislator Douglas Bruce for opposing Measure 2C.

The measure, if approved by voters nest week, would raise the city’s sales tax and generate $250 million over five years for pothole repairs. Miller opposes the measure.

In his email, Miller wrote the following:

The media coverage of opposition to 2C appears always to mention the terms: “convicted felon (Bruce)…” and “council member under ethics cloud (Collins)…” Whether or not it’s intentional, the appearance is that opposition points of view are canned and presented with negative connotations.

Miller, echoing concerns from Bruce and Collins, said the measure’s ballot language states the money would be used for “road repairs/improvements,” and that it could give the city legal standing to include the planned City For Champions project in the 2C spending.

Also raising eyebrows, Miller said, was a late September trip that six city staff members took to New York City. The group met with the architect and developers of the Olympic Museum, one of the facets of City For Champions.

“It was paid for by the Sports Corporation in Colorado Springs at no cost to taxpayers,” said Jeff Greene, the city’s chief of staff, who made the trip. “It cost $15,000.”

Greene said the city staffers met with 30 people over several days, and it was cheaper to send a group to New York than to bring the New York contingent to Colorado Springs.

“We have…donors paying for a trip and it’s likely they will benefit from these projects getting done,” Miller said. “(The) city employees…are working on their salaries paid by taxpayers toward the fruition of these projects.”

Greene disagrees with Miller.

“How (2C) is being attached or assigned to this museum project, I’ll once again say is preposterous,” Greene said. “I think you have individuals in this community who are intentionally misguiding and misinforming the public in trying to connect these two projects.”

Miller said he’s not completely opposed to City For Champions.

“But I am adamantly against the city taxpayers paying for (it) in any way,” he said.