In opposition to Boulder County Issue 1A
Higher taxes yield less tax revenue. It's happening in Boulder.Watch channel 8 and listen to the City of Boulder's City Manager tell us that sales tax revenue (which is the largest source of revenue for the city) has dropped 10% this year alone and 20% over the last four years. Nor does the City Manager see where the slide in tax revenues will end. This is ONLY happening in the city of Boulder. Surrounding communities such as Broomfield and Westminster are seeing their sales tax revenues go up.
And, according to the City Manager, the creation of the 29th St. Mall will not fix the problem.
For years, people who have been opposed to these tax increases have warned that the hostile business climate in Boulder will cause tax revenues to go down. Now the golden goose is sick and the medicine being prescribed is the same: more taxes. We can guarantee that the goose will get sicker if this tax is approved.
While the objective of the new tax - more open space - may be worthwhile, the voters should carefully weigh the cost. Boulder city services have been drastically reduced. Eventually the social safety nets that the citizens of Boulder have so carefully and compassionately set up will have to be dismantled because there will be no money. The things that make living in Boulder County worthwhile will disappear as the city and the county desperately scramble for funds just to keep police and fire functioning.
For some, taxes are never high enough. Last year a Boulder city council member stated that the reason to approve 2003's open space retail tax increase was to "finish up" the open space program. Apparently, it was not finished.
Voters should look at the empty retail outlets in the city of Boulder. Do the citizens really want this pattern repeated all over Boulder County?
Every time we raise these taxes then that is more stores that must close because the stores cannot or will not compete. It is desperately needed money that does not come into the government's coffers because taxing at higher rates is now counterproductive.
Read the text of the bond issue: "To the extent that moneys from such tax are not sufficient for the repayment of such bonds ... " money will have to come from such places as the general fund and the conservation trust fund! In other words, in order to sell this bond issue we've got to hock ourselves even more than just this tax increase. More services cut. More need for more taxes. Our children will be forced to pay for our profligacy. It's morally wrong.
For the economic sustainability of Boulder County, for the health of the social safety net, for the health of your job, home, and family you have no choice but to ...
Vote NO on 1A.
Ralph Shnelvar
1333 King Ave
Boulder, CO 80302
303-546-6125
ralphs@dos32.com