Opinion: County commissioners – Do the right thing
Published August 27, 2008 by Lon Matejczyk
By CSBJ Publisher Lon Matejczyk
The El Paso County Commissioners should vote yes to put the penny sales tax on the Ballot – it’s that simple.
And, reducing by half is not the answer, Commissioner Bensburg.
There will be an adverse effect on business if the penny sales tax is not passed.
We need the basic services of any normal society and those basic services are deteriorating quickly. Measles epidemics, unsafe neighborhoods and feeling scared in our community are threats we face without the tax.
El Paso County Budget Director Nicola Sapp reported that the county sales and use tax revenues for June decreased 3.91 percent compared to June last year. Serious cuts have already been made to the tune of $9.1 million.
Our quality of life will continue to deteriorate if the penny sales tax is not passed. Food and prescription drugs will not be affected.
If you don’t want to pay the tax, don’t buy anything.
I don’t believe Sen. Andy McElhany’s claim that there are 200 businesses opposing the penny uptick. You’d think that the local business journal would have heard about that.
So, county commissioners, do the right thing for our region and put the penny sales tax on the ballot.
Filed under CSBJ Daily
I’m planning on buying a home here in the Spring. However I am very worried about the severe cut back this city is being forced to make. I wonder do I really want to own a home here? What if this trend continues? Will my child have parks to play in, police to protect us, etc. There are so many services that will be cut I won’t bother listing them. How attrative will this city be to potenial businesses locating here? PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND VOTE FOR IT!
It’s ridiculous to blame Commissioner Bensburg for attempting to find a compromise that might be even remotely palatable to a majority of voters.
Mr. Bensburg has the political prowess to realize, unlike Lon Matejczyk, that most voters aren’t in a financial position to pay more taxes, so they certainly won’t lightly vote to pay an additional penny tax. If the county commissioners want us to give up even more of our hard earned paychecks, then they will have to find a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. Good for Mr. Bensburg, who is at least looking through his recipe book.
PUT IT ON THE BALLOT … but we as registered voters MUST VOTE TO PASS IT. After moving here I was aghast to learn what is happening to our city and county. Without this increase we are going to hearing about FAR more crime (and I’m sure we don’t hear all of it now), job loss and much more. When companies considering relocation to Colorado Springs area fully understand that the general population is not willing to step up to the plate we will no longer be considered one of the best cities in which to work and live and there will be fewer jobs. I, for one, am willing to pay the additional penny sales tax and no, I don’t make a lot of money. Safety, lifestyle and standard of living is why I moved here from a far more metropolitan city only to find that the citizens here prefer to have their heads in the clouds thinking this this situation will pass if ignored or voted down. IT WON’T. Come on people, let’s help the city and county by putting this tax on the ballot and PASSING IT thusly allowing them to assist us in maintaining the lifestyle we enjoy in the Pikes Peak region.
Why stop at a penny county sales tax increase. I mean when you think about it a penny is not that much. If a penny increase solves our problems why not a nickel or dime increase? Think of all the programs we could add, the people that could be hired to oversee those programs. Shoot–if we’re going to increase the county sales tax why not go for a quarter increase or more. I mean it’s still not that much–and besides if you don’t like it, don’t buy anything here, right? That’s good for business isn’t it? And since we’re on the subject the State and the City need sales tax increases as well. By the way, where did all the money go when things were good and sales tax collections were ahead of budget?
Make mine the 200 and first business to oppose the tax!
No body likes the extra tax - but I sure as heck don’t like the idea of extra criminals on the streets more. This town needs to wake up and realize that you get what you pay for. These are basic services we’re talking about - without them we are fast becoming an uncivilized town. If we’re not ready to support a property tax increase, then this is way we have to go. I want to sleep peacefully at night.
Okay, I run a small business and it is already difficult enough to sell our services which depend heavily on vehicles. We are already paying outrageous fuel taxes to the state and feds. More taxes are being sent out of Colorado than come back into it. Look at the mess on the north end of I25. Denver people don’t want to come here because of the short sightedness of our public servants in not developing 3 lanes at least to Monument.
So, you can add another business to those opposing additional taxes. I could easily find 200 more businesses in this town that do not want to raise the prices of their goods any more. Every quarter, my raw materials go up 8% which means I have to raise my prices. Sounds like another quick dive into another Carter like recession to me.
We are already paying an estimated aggregate 50% in taxes to every yahoo government entity around.
Just like the schools are always bellyaching for money then cut the most visible and inconveniencing services to try and convince us that they Just Have to Have more money to keep basic services. These people need to learn within OUR means just like the rest of this town has had to do after the major blood letting of jobs off to India and south of the border.
Maybe they ought to consider downsizing some of the management staff and salaries.
READ OUR LIPS, NO NEW TAXES!
TAX ME
TAX ME
SPEND MORE AND
TAX ME!