Another election, another request for a tax increase. That’s what it feels like.
As the “Report of the Mayor’s Infrastructure Priorities Task Force” hit Denver’s snow-choked streets, a question hung in the gradually warming air:
Will city residents again be asked to contribute more for public services?
Mayor John Hickenlooper claims it’s too soon to say. He said the city must identify “a priority that people want” and explore other ways to pay for it.
Hickenlooper talked about getting new money from just-completed tax- increment financing projects that once diverted sales taxes from the general fund. He confirmed that he’s considering taking money from the city’s hotel authority.
Still, it’s hard to find people who think Denver can find all the money it needs to maintain roads, parks and cultural institutions without asking for new revenue.
“The debate,” said Councilman Doug Linkhart, “was whether to do it in May or November.”
Apparently, folks will catch a break until November. By then, odds favor Hizzoner and the council once more begging constituents to pony up.
A November plea for more money for such things as park irrigation and road renovations would be Denver’s ninth bond issue or tax increase request since May 2003. And that doesn’t count state requests for extra funds. Between the city and Denver Public Schools, it seems like most city ballots now include this question: “Shall taxes be increased?”
Shall Denver’s property taxes be increased by $7 million a year for services for “mental retardation”?
Shall property taxes be increased by $14 million in fiscal year 2004 and “without limitation” after that to pay off up to $208 million in principal and interest on bonds for Denver Health hospital?
Shall property taxes be increased
$17 million in fiscal 2008 and “without limitation” after that to pay off up to $599.9 million to build a new jail and justice center?
Shall Denver Public Schools taxes be increased $25 million a year for “professional compensation” for teachers?
Shall school taxes be increased
$20 million a year to hire art and music teachers?
Shall school taxes be increased
$38 million annually and bonds issued costing up to $790 million in principal and interest to renovate or acquire schools?
Shall Denver’s lodging taxes be increased $4.2 million a year to pay for marketing the city as a tourist destination?
Shall Denver’s sales taxes be increased $12 million a year to pay for preschool?
“Your question is: How much is enough?” said Councilman Charlie Brown. “That’s up to the voters.”
Their answer on preschool funding – the latest tax increase – sent a message. The tax hike barely passed.
Hickenlooper said that’s because people had a problem letting public money pay for private preschools. Councilwoman Jeanne Robb said it was because people don’t see preschool as a city service.
“I just sent out a campaign mailer to 2,000 likely voters,” Robb said. “Fifty percent of the people said they support a tax increase to improve parks, cultural facilities and transportation.”
Guys like Brown and Linkhart wonder how solid the majority is.
“We need money to do regular maintenance, but you don’t have a ribbon-cutting for repairing a roof,” said Linkhart.
He thinks the city should ask for a tax increase to create a maintenance fund.
Brown, meanwhile, worries that if November’s requests for money are not bundled, individual projects might lose.
Robb hopes that paying off old bonds will make issuing new ones a wash, so people’s tax bills stay the same.
No one, however, sees Hickenlooper forgoing another request for a tax increase or bond issue. “Non-ribbon- cutting projects are not sexy,” Brown said. “But they’re darned
important.”
So is balancing public services against private pay raises that often don’t cover higher health insurance premiums.
Denver may not yet be ripe for a taxpayer revolt. But where folks can’t keep up with the cost of living in their personal lives, they will think real hard before agreeing to buy a new sprinkler system for
City Park.
Jim Spencer’s column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 303-954-1771 or jspencer@denverpost.com.
