Ballot Commentary

The City has presented two ballot initiatives.

The 1st ballot issue 2D:
The City of Castle Pines North is requesting approval of up to 19 mills of NEW property taxes. This ballot initiative suggests that if the CPN Metro District is able to free up some taxes/mills, the City can automatically charge a NEW tax without your consideration as to what your taxes will be paying for. Currently the Castle Pines North Metro District is collecting taxes for specific purposes, providing water now and into the future, maintaining our parks and open space, and paying off the remaining $23 million of historical debt and $9 million from purchasing water storage space in Rueter Hess reservoir in 2009.

The Metro District’s taxes you currently pay are part of a well thought out professionally managed financial structure. The operations budget is lean and the remaining taxes are dedicated to only paying our current debt. As that debt is paid off, your taxes will be reduced or your vote will be necessary for these mills to be transferred to another purpose. Currently the Metro District is prepaying our debt when the interest rates are low in preparation for purchasing renewable water. Our debt must be lowered rapidly in order to borrow the necessary amount of funds for our renewable water plan.

The City is proposing that when those taxes are reduced they will automatically be transferred to a NEW permanent tax for City purposes.

The 2nd ballot issue 2E:
This is a clear attempt to bypass the obligation of the Tax Payers Bill of Rights (TABOR), a process called “De-Brucing.” The TABOR Amendment demands that governmental entities manage spending in an appropriate way. This ballot initiative will allow the City to collect, retain, and spend taxes and fees such as Franchise Fees, Tap fees, Park Fees, Grants, etc. This initiative being proposed by the City of Castle Pines North removes citizen control and gives the City the ability to spend money without direction by its citizens.

Conclusion:
It is important that each CPN homeowner carefully learn and consider the repercussions of these ballot measures. As members of one of the highest taxed communities in Colorado we need to retain a voice and control of our hard earned money and hold the City of Castle Pines North accountable for their budgetary decisions in the years ahead.