Election costs at issue for strong-mayor proposal

They say timing is everything.

For supporters of a strong-mayor form of government in Colorado Springs, asking voters to change the city’s governing structure makes the most sense in November because a new mayor and up to six new City Council members will be elected in April 2011.

But for some council members who cut $500,000 from City Clerk Kathryn Young’s 2010 spending plan to help balance the budget, the cost of an election couldn’t come at a worse time.

“All they’re doing is creating a fiscal problem for the city,” said Councilman Darryl Glenn.

“That’s over $400,000 that we would have to add on top of the $27 million shortfall (projected in 2011) just to ask that question, and I’m not willing to do that,” he said. “We’re jeopardizing the health, safety and welfare of this community to ask a question that might not even have a chance of passing right now.”

Citizens for Accountable Leadership is still working out details of the proposal and planning to solicit community input. The proposal would essentially give the mayor executive power and eliminate the position of city manager.

Councilman Tom Gallagher said the city has no choice but to pay for an election if the question makes it onto the ballot.

“As I understand it, this is going to be citizen-initiated, so tapping into the reserve fund is totally appropriate,” he said.

Gallagher said he advocated setting aside money for a municipal election during last year’s budget balancing sessions.

“It’s not that difficult to foresee that there were going to be questions on the ballot,” he said.

“Either way, if it’s a citizen-initiated thing, it becomes an obligation. There’s no debate involved,” he added.
Kevin Walker, director of Citizens for Accountable Leadership, said the group plans to take out petitions in May to start collecting signatures.

“If we’re going to change the form of government, now is the time,” he said. “This is a pivotal point.”

It’s unclear how many signatures the group would need to get the question on the ballot. Young, the city clerk, didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.

Glenn said the group should pay for the election. Typical costs include printing and mailing ballots, tallying votes and paying poll workers.

“I’d rather have them submit a check before they submit language (for a petition) because I don’t see why citizens of this community have to suffer more to find an additional $400,000 to ask a question,” he said.

Andy McElhany, a co-chair of the citizens group, said Glenn’s idea is unrealistic. He also said waiting until April 2011 to place this issue on the ballot would “absolutely” affect who runs for mayor.

“Right now, the position of mayor is more ceremonial than anything else, and there’s a lot of people who just aren’t interested in that,” he said.

McElhany also said other ballot proposals are being floated.

“We’re hearing rumors of other things going to the ballot in November, like a park tax and that sort of thing,” he said. “We don’t know where it’s all going to shake out.”

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