OUR VIEW: The $4.3 million miscalculation

When city officials tried to convince voters to approve a major tax increase on the November ballot, much of the rhetoric was frightening. Voters heard of plans to fence dozens of city parks. Citizens would suffer the consequences of mass layoffs in the police and fire departments. Most necessities were threatened, and nearly all amenities — including swimming pools and a popular museum — would most certainly close.

City Hall may well have needed the tax money, and The Gazette did something it rarely does: it endorsed the requested tax increase, despite trepidations about the ill-fated approach city officials employ when asking for money.

City officials are known by longtime residents of the springs to promise doom and gloom that doesn’t transpire. In 2008, city officials joined forces with county officials in threatening dire consequences and widespread misery if a public safety sales tax increase failed. Voters learned that crime would flourish, swimming pools would turn to bilge, and restaurant food would make people ill for a lack of proper inspection by health officials.

None of it happened after voters rejected the sales tax, and it appears a lot of the dire warnings regarding the city’s failed request for a property tax increase won’t come to pass any time soon. Voters were told failure of the tax would close the Pioneers Museum. Yet council members found money to keep it afloat for now. Voters were told failure of the tax increase would close recreation centers, yet council members found the money to keep open for now the Aquatic and Fitness Center at Memorial Park, the Cottonwood Creek Recreation Center and various community centers. Lo and behold, council even found $12,750 to fund the Mayor’s 100 Teens — a recognition program that could and should be administered and funded by a private trust.

Where did all this money come from? It turns out the city anticipates an extra $4.3 million, which council members didn’t expect during the tax campaign because of something like an accounting error. We’re told city officials have three conflicting calculations regarding money paid to the city by Colorado Springs Utilities. When making dire predictions during the tax campaign, they predicted less money would come from utilities than is anticipated in a later estimation. The newer prediction, if accurate, would land a nice windfall in the reserve fund — enough to prolong amenities that some voters believed they were letting go of when rejecting the tax increase.

The surprise money, which the council immediately raided for pet causes, exemplifies the problem with a tax campaign centered on threats. If city officials promise doomsday and then avoid it, if only for a short time, credibility is lost. Already, some Gazette readers want an investigation of the $4.3 million miscalculation.

“As we all know, Colorado Springs citizens were threatened about the consequences of not voting for the passage of a property tax increase with everything from limited police and fire services to closing many public facilities, etc., etc., etc. ... now we are told there was a so-called ‘miscalculation’ to the tune of $4.3 million,” wrote local financial consultant Jeffrey Pisanos, in letter to The Gazette suggesting an investigation into the windfall.

“Is our credibility hurt by this? Absolutely,” said Councilman Darryl Glenn, who opposed spending the $4.3 million. “Every week we are taking one step forward and two steps back with our credibility. City council passed a resolution supporting the tax, and many on council campaigned for it with threats of dire consequences. It is entirely fair for voters to address what city officials campaigned on, verses what we’re doing now.”

Members of the City Council, one thing should be perfectly clear by now: Voters do not approve tax increases advocated with a negative campaign. They will tolerate closed pools, dead grass in the parks, unplowed streets and slow emergency responses before they’ll reward a campaign of threats. The negativity fails to inspire, and it only elicits resentment and suspicion. Finding money, and budgeting it to save the day, only confirms the electorate’s lack of trust. Though it may have been an innocent mistake, the windfall — coupled with the irresponsible spending spree — leads voters to believe the poverty platform was a lie. They believe the city cried wolf. — Wayne Laugesen, for the editorial board

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Our View editorials uphold a proud tradition at The Gazette of advocating individual freedom, constitutional law, faith, and limited government. Editorial opinions have no connection with The Gazette’s news division, and do not express the views of all Gazette associates.