Comments on: Cutting through the 1A hyperbole

By: John Lee

John Lee — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:07:19 +0000

1 A is just to vague and without sufficient controls on the expenditures.
Tom summed it up nicely.

By: Renee Zentz

Renee Zentz — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:20:49 +0000

Vote YES! This is a exactly where I think our money should be spent – Locally. For $10.00/ yr, we can watch and question every dollar spent to attract and retain jobs in our community. JOBS is specifically designed to have local control and local oversight; it is designed in the true sprit of representative government.

Renee Zentz

By: Jerry Novak

Jerry Novak — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:23:13 +0000

I’m tired of hearing about lack of transparency and “slush fund”. Does anybody realize that our council controls almost $2 billion in budgets every year and this same council will have the final decision about how these funds are spent? If we don’t trust our duly elected officials with another 0.2% of spending, then we have the wrong council or the wrong form of government. We need to realize that we are in a competitive situation when it comes to jobs and any advantage can help all of us who have a job or need a job in Colorado Springs.

By: Donna Lovelace-Flora

Donna Lovelace-Flora — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:21:36 +0000

I’m beginning to concur with both Mr. Rhue and Mr. Arnold. Both of you have put it very nicely.

I’ve been reading the reports on the 1A “Jobs Now” ballot issues, but still have many unanswered questions. I sent a note to the 1A committee but have not received any response.

Rest assured, I am all for seeing an increase in job opportunities in Colorado Springs.

The votejobsnow.com website recaps some key points about the initiative, including the creation of a new 5-person committee to “make recommendations to city council pertaining to the expenditure and use of such revenue …”. I’m wondering what are the required qualifications of the appointed members and where the proposed new City Council Committee will “fit in” with the EDC (see Colorado Springs.org)?

The VoteJobsNow site also discusses how the funds “may” be used, identifying seven categories. However, there is no detailed explanation of these categories and many appear to be duplicates of initiatives by other community organizations. I’d like to better understand how these categories will contribute to creating additional jobs, and retention of jobs. It would also be nice to see a proposed 5-year plan for these uses of funds, with projected # of additional jobs.

I have seen a lot of quality jobs disappear, and I would love to see them return two-fold. I would also like to see more efforts towards “retention”. However, it would be helpful if the founders of the 1A initiative could provide a little more clarification since so much of this initiative sounds like a duplication of the goals and programs in place by other existing community and city organizations. In truth the idea is great. But what is laid out is very vague I’m not sure I trust the delivery.

Donna Lovelace-Flora

By: T.A. Arnold

T.A. Arnold — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:08:06 +0000

Tom, You see right through the issue. I just hope that the flaws are as transparent to other voters.

I’m on the Sustainable Funding Committee where it originated, participated in the debate, and I still don’t understand the basis for the tax extension. A “statement of need” or a budget was never presented.

BTW, I was asked to write an editorial for The Gazette, and did so (in print Tues March 24th)

By: Tom Rhue

Tom Rhue — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:33:36 +0000

I do not have a problem with the City asking for a new tax for a specific reason but to disguise it as continuation of a tax which was passed with a sunset provision and that it is actually not a tax increase is not an honest statement. If they want a tax increase, ask for it. The next time a sunset provision is used as an incentive to pass a tax I will not belileve it will actually happen.

I am unhappy with the City and County raising monies via fees such as the Stormwater Fee and Certificates of Participation (COPS) after ballot issues have been defeated. I do not trust the officials when they do an end run around the voters. I understand the City and County need monies but do not believe what they tell us.

1 A is just to vague and without sufficient controls on the expenditures.

Tom Rhue