Road tax debate questions

Re: Proposed road tax ignites debate

Is it asking too much that a report on the road tax debate actually discuss the ideas being debated? I fail to see how Laura Carno’s employment by Wells Fargo seven years ago or whether Americans for Prosperity received any donations from the Koch brothers is relevant to the questions raised on this tax proposal. This Saul Alinsky style attack on the groups opposed to this issue both cheapens the reporting of The Gazette and does a disservice to anyone looking to be better informed on the issue.

Here are some questions this undecided voter would like The Gazette to ask and the mayor to answer:

– Is this tax hike the best option for the city or merely the easiest?

– If it is the best option, explain why.

– The mayor notes that road repairs will be performed by outside contractors – how will their costs and quality of their work be monitored? How will the city ensure we are getting our money’s worth?

– The city has a number of special funds, are any of these overfunded? If so, could an offsetting, five-year tax decrease for an overfunded special fund be proposed to offset this tax increase?

– A number of suggestions were made by Steven Anderson from Americans for Prosperity. Are any of them worthy of adopting, possibly leading to a lower tax hike?

Answers to these questions will go a long way to providing the voters with enough information to decide if the current city leadership are diligent stewards of the taxpayers’ resources.

Matt Drosendahl

Colorado Springs

What has changed?

As a longtime resident of Colorado Springs, I can’t remember a time when our roads have been in worse repair. According to our elected leaders, the reason for this is because there isn’t enough money to maintain them. Their solution is for us to pay more in the form of increased taxes. What I don’t understand is how, for decades, our roads had been adequately maintained without a tax increase. What has changed?

Lawrence M. Reisinger

Colorado Springs

Examine school board candidates

As a Colorado Springs D-11 elementary school teacher, I want school board members who will take the time to understand the challenges of teaching and working with students and their families and who will work with us to improve the education opportunities we provide to our students.

As a school district employee, I have an obligation to advocate for public education and public school students and employees.

I urge every voter to examine the positions of the seven school board candidates and figure out who will help lead our district in the most positive direction for the next four years. I have made up my mind.

Jessica Trovik

Colorado Springs

Trash, weeds and bad roads

Returned from a trip in Sheridan, Wyo. The area was clean, trim, with lots of art. Tour buses with vacation folks shopping their stores, dining and lodging overnight.

Guests always spend more than locals. Our city and merchants need these people and tour buses.

Our daughter visits and says “so much trash, don’t you people ever pick anything up?” Do we want to be known for trash, weeds and bad roads?

Code enforcement say their people were overwhelmed this year with weed calls. Sheridan had their wettest year on record but they took care of business. If code enforcement is stressed they must hire more officers and they must be motivated to enforce.

No one likes higher taxes, but it is going to cost to get back on track. Sales tax is probably a good vehicle, let out of town visitors help pay for our recovery. Colorado Springs has so much natural beauty and our problems can be fixed. The future of our city is dependent upon it. We want a city where everyone who visits wants to move to.

Lola Nafziger

Colorado Springs

Needs assurances from officials

I just read Megan Schrader’s article about Proposition BB and would like to air my own opinion.

I would gladly vote for the retention of the pot tax funds, but only if every member of the Colorado Legislature, every elected official in the executive branch, and especially the governor, would sign a pledge that these funds would indeed go to the schools and for needed construction. In other words, I want assurances that the money would not be siphoned off for incidentals deemed more important by our so-called representatives.

Hopefully, some of them are honest enough to adhere to their pledge, and the funds would go to the rightful use.

Thomas Zallaha

Colorado Springs

Congress isn’t working

So Congress wants a pay raise when their approval rating is so low they wouldn’t even qualify for one even if they put it to a vote. They’re having trouble making ends meet while having to support two homes. Why don’t we build government housing for them and pack five to six congressmen into a three bedroom apartment so that they can share expenses and meals. Even better would be a dormitory so they can all live together and actually have more time to discuss the issues before them.

Being a congressman isn’t that hard really – what’s hard is living under the laws they make and the regulations they put in place that don’t affect them! We don’t have free government healthcare, which is costing a lot more than what they have. You want to have an Affordable Health Care Act, give us what Congress has. If you won’t live under the laws you pass what makes you think we want to.

Congress isn’t working and I honestly believe that what is needed is a complete overhaul of the system, starting with term limits and going all the way through to retirement (full pay after two years?) What fat pig came up with that one?

People you need to look at what you’re getting for your dollars and start demanding better value. This present batch we have act like they were made in China. They looked good in the box but as soon as you take them out and start them up they don’t work as advertised in the commercials. We need to demand our money back!

Steven Rauch

Colorado Springs