Letters - Sunday

BUDGET CUTS

County still trying to get to the bottom of problem

The Oct. 24 letter, “Where is revenue from taxes going?” concerning sales tax collection in El Paso County brings to light questions the County Commissioners have been working to resolve for the past two years.

Steve Grigsby asked what auditing procedures the county uses. When the finance director brought this issue to our attention in late 2005 — after noting the discrepancies in the Rural Transportation Authority (RTA) data and the county data — we hired an additional staff person to research the discrepancies comparing relevant data from the county, the RTA and Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs collects its own sales tax and provides an independent number to evaluate against.

Comparing the county sales tax data with the RTA data has provided some indication as to the answer to his question, “how much more (information) is wrong.” It seems there are many discrepancies in the two state reports. This could be an error by the state, it could be a reporting problem by the retailer or a collection failure by the retailer.

Which leads to his question regarding businesses that may have failed to pay the sales tax. The county has identified and forwarded to the Colorado Department of Revenue several thousand “repeat offenders” whose reports are consistently inconsistent. We cannot find the rationale for reports that should match yet do not.

By state statute, the Department of Revenue collects sales tax on behalf of El Paso County, and it would have to undertake any collection or correction action. It has assigned a staff member to research what we believe is a $2 million to $4 million shortfall in the past three years. Depending on how this is resolved, the county may seek legislative relief so we can collect the county sales tax in the same way and possibly in conjunction with the city.

All 269 pages of the 2007 budget are available online at www.elpasoco.com, as well as the preliminary 2008 budget.

Dennis Hisey

Chair, El Paso County commissioners

Bruce a better finger-pointer than problem-solver

At the beginning of the year, I wrote asking Doug Bruce to explain what he was doing to help keep El Paso County’s finances in order. You see, he seems very distracted by the Colorado Springs budget and, as a county commissioner, he owes it to the voters to focus on county finances. Not a peep was heard from him all year.

However, since El Paso County’s $4 million shortfall was announced, Bruce is all over local television with his tired arsenal of personal attacks and lack of cogent opinions. Bruce is a part of the commission. He is just as responsible for the budget as anyone else.

Instead of pointing fingers at colleagues, he should work with them to solve the problem. El Paso County needs mature leaders who are committed to solving problems — not people who are only interested in telling others what’s wrong in their lives and who is to blame for it.

Chris Widdick

Colorado Springs

PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS

Group is open to all who respect soldiers

In response to the photo caption in the Nov. 1 paper in which you refer to the Patriot Guard Riders as a “biker group” (“Father of Slain Marine Win Case”), I’d like point out that our organization, while started by motorcyclists, is open to anyone.

To quote our mission statement: “The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

“We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.”

Robin Thurston

Colorado Springs

CITY BUDGET

Don’t sacrifice safety for transportation

The City Council has once again bowed to the public and (especially) the media pressure by voting to keep the city’s transit system intact while eliminating important programs involving public safety.

As someone who has benefited from the life-saving aspects of the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Helicopter Unit, I find this trend very disturbing.

City Councilman Randy Purvis is correct. The City Council is apparently willing to exchange the public’s safety for public transportation. With crime (once again) on the rise, the city needs to concentrate more on public safety, not less — and the helicopter unit is a life-saving tool that is second to none in this area. I would have been killed if the helicopter had not flown over and deterred two drunken, weaponyielding men from attacking me more than seven years ago. I am sure the helicopter unit has helped many others.

The final 2008 city budget will not be voted on until Nov. 27. Let’s all hope that council members will come to their senses and realize the importance of life-saving tools for our city’s public safety before that deadline, and that they will vote to keep the helicopter unit and other vital public safety programs ongoing.

Addy M. Hansen

Colorado Springs

GLOBAL WARMING

Left would prefer debate be one-sided

Phil Stahl wrote in a letter to the editor, “How many times do we have to repeat to skeptics that most of their claims against man-made global warming are hogwash?” (“Relation to cosmic rays a weak link at best,” Oct. 26). His dismissal of non-believers is an excellent example of what’s wrong with the global warming debate. If the left has its way, there won’t be a debate.

The left has swiped the man-made, imminent-danger side of the the issue, turned it political, and now refuses to acknowledge alternate viewpoints. Liberals love to hate conservatives because of their supposed closed-mindedness, but the left’s tactics are reminiscent of an old-fashioned Southern tent revival. Al Gore is preaching the end of the world if we don’t embrace his global warming doctrine, while his Hollywood disciples lavish him with money and awards. Meanwhile, the liberal media does its part by attempting to stifle opposing thought.

If I ever become a believer in man-made global warming, it will not be because of the tactics of Al Gore, Phil Stahl, Hollywood or the liberal media.

Mike Tooley

Falcon

GAY UNIONS

Idea of marriage leads to irrational fears

In her opinion piece debating gay unions (“Abby not final word on gay union debate,” Other Voices, Oct. 26), Shaunti Feldhahn denies that she ever met anyone who “had some amorphous ‘fear’” of gays or lesbians” or “viewed (them) as a threat.” However, she herself goes on to mention the most common manifestation of such fear: the supposed threat to traditional, heterosexual marriage if couples of the same sex are allowed to marry. The specter of eventual societal breakdown often lurks in the shadows of this fear.

Though I cannot agree that allowing two people who love each other to marry can ever lead to such dire consequences (and, indeed, it seems rather to bolster the institution of marriage, since it is in fact sought after and valued), I wish that Feldhahn and others would at least admit that they do harbor this fear of gay people.

Perhaps she’s not afraid of an individual gay or lesbian person chained by our society’s discrimination, but, rather, of couples and families openly integrated into society. She does fear giving gays and lesbians the same rights as everyone else: She just thinks it’s a justified fear, whereas I do not.

Sonja Solter

Colorado Springs