Springs councilwoman buys airtime to make case against proposed tax increase
A Colorado Springs City Councilwoman is buying radio airtime to make her case against a proposed tax increase.
Helen Collins claims that, if passed, money generated from a proposed tax increase to pay for pothole repairs will actually be put toward a new arena downtown.
According to a news release written by her political ally, TABOR author Douglas Bruce, Collins spent $10,000 of her own money to run the ad on six Colorado Springs radio stations, including KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 FM/1240 AM.
Colorado Springs voters will decide on Issue 2C in the November 3 election. The issue reads, as follows:
SHALL CITY TAXES BE INCREASED $50,000,000 ANNUALLY BY LEVYING A TEMPORARY 0.62% SALES/USE TAX FOR ROAD REPAIRS/IMPROVEMENTS TO TERMINATE 12/31/2020, CONSTITUTING A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE EXEMPT FROM SPENDING/REVENUE LIMITATIONS?
The question, on which voters will be able to vote yes or no, is accompanied by the following explanation, according to a sample ballot posted on the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office website:
If approved, the City of Colorado Springs shall be authorized to temporarily increase its sales and use tax by 0.62% (6.2 pennies on a $10 purchase) for five years to fund only road repairs and improvements, and be permitted to retain all such revenues generated and to expend the same only for road repairs and improvements, exempt from spending and revenue limitations. If this question is approved, the existing sales and use tax rate of 2.5% established by the City Code will be increased by 0.62% dedicated to road repairs and improvements to make an effective City tax rate of 3.12% as of January 1, 2016. This tax will sunset (expire) exactly five (5) years from the date of its implementation and will not affect or apply to purchases of food for domestic home consumption, prescriptions, residential utility bills or other items exempt from City sales and use tax under the City Code. This temporary increase in sales and use tax revenue will be placed in a dedicated fund to be used only for funding the cost to repair roads and streets throughout all areas of the City, including cost of road reconstruction where severe deterioration does not allow repair. None of the additional sales and use tax revenue will be used to hire additional City employees or purchase additional equipment for City road projects. The repair work will be contracted out to the private sector
The language of the ballot measure indicates that the money will only be used for road repairs and related costs, but Collins argues in her ad, which began airing Monday, that the voters are being fooled by the rest of city council and Mayor John Suthers.
Here is the script for Collins’ radio ad:
Issue 2C is a $250 MILLION tax hike. It is NOT for ROADS. It is for the DOWNTOWN ARENA, to be built WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL.
How do I know? I am Councilwoman Helen Collins. I cast the ONLY vote against issue 2C. Their bait-and-switch would wreck our economy and cripple family budgets. Vote NO on 2C.
They now admit it is for ANY capital improvements. And WHERE has that $680 million in road taxes GONE since 2005?
They tried to recall me. Now they waste over $50,000 for a phony “ethics” witch hunt. Anything to shut me up! Don’t be fooled. If I don’t trust City Hall, why should you? Visit RaiseTaxesAgain.com….RaiseTaxesAgain.com
I bought this ad personally–to SAVE our city. Tell your friends. Vote NO on 2C.
Paid by Helen Collins
In the news release that Bruce sent out on behalf of Collins Monday, he wrote, “on September 8th, the mayor told Channel 13 HALF was for roads and HALF for other improvements.”
A search of KRDO.com shows that KRDO NewsChannel 13 did speak with Bruce and Mayor Suthers on the topic of issue 2C on Sept. 8. That report cites Suthers as having said “about half of the construction costs will involve repaving, with sidewalks and related infrastructure comprising the other half.” You can read and watch that report here.
A downtown stadium is currently included in Colorado Springs’ City for Champions initiative. City for Champions, as envisioned, will also include an Olympic museum, Air Force Academy visitor center and a sports medicine and performance center at UCCS.
City for Champions will be paid for, in large part, with a $120 million tourism grant from the State of Colorado. The total cost is expected to be $250 million, meaning it’s possible that local tax money will be needed to complete City for Champions.
Spending tax money on a downtown stadium has been especially controversial because of questions about whether such a facility is needed and would be economically viable.
In September, Suthers said a feasibility study would be done to determine if the stadium could be funded by the private sector.
