More taxes?

 The Gilpin County Commissioners voted Tuesday, June 13, 2023 to have our County attorney draw up ballot language to put another tax on Gilpin County for the community center this Fall. At the same meeting, they voted to hire an architectural firm to design a $1.1 MILLION, 2,500 sq. ft. building for a food pantry, $88,600 for a "free" after-school program for teenagers (serving only an average of 22 teens in the last count). The plan is to hire another full-time rec center staff person and one part-time person that serve 22 teenagers?!? Are you kidding me?

With the current mill levy, we paid $3,461,121 for the center's operations and programs, but it didn't include funding for capital repairs. Why raise more taxes for a Community Center they say is falling apart when those monies cannot be used to make the repairs?

As a Gilpin resident that supported the current mill levy because they threatened the Center may be closed for eight years, I asked the commissioners to abandon the idea of asking the taxpayers for another tax for the community center. They didn’t respond. We are already going to be hit with significant increased property taxes next year. Use the general fund and make repairs! The casinos are supplying millions of dollars to our community, which kept that rec center running seven days a week in the past. No new taxes.

Here are some charts created by taxpayers from data provided by the County, comparing costs and uses from 2013 to today. We’re paying more, using less, and facing ANOTHER mill levy at 2.57 mills and a proposed 3% annual increase that never ends! 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18hYiTiSY43JuVPcO-xTTJW6pfW02Kaf5/view?usp=drivesdk

Taxpayers, let the Commissioners know what you think. Either way…here is how the Commissioners voted:

NEW MILL LEVY TAX BALLOT LANGUAGE -

Mornis - NO

Hollingsworth - YES

Berumen - YES

$1.1 MILLION FOOD PANTRY -

Mornis - NO

Hollingsworth - YES

Berumen - YES

$88,600 AFTER SCHOOL FREE TEEN PROGRAM -

Mornis - YES

Hollingsworth - YES

Berumen - YES

 

Sharing the light,

 

Donna Okray Parman

Gilpin Taxpayer

Email the Commissioners

... or call them at 303-582-5214 to voice your concerns.

Bypass lengthy voice commands by these extension numbers as soon as the system answers.  It will connect you to the Commissioner's voicemail.

 

Marie Mornis extension - 11101

Sandy Hollingsworth extension - 11103

Susan Berumen extension - 11102  

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