Colorado Highlands Buzz

After the last post about a potential tax increase, I started reading more about this whole topic, and considering replies from Gazette readers, this is a very divided issue.

People are either for tax increases, saying that we need them in order to fund services, not only to prevent loosing more programs, but to make up for the increase in costs, from gas to personal, technology to human resources for city employees. This segment says that our city government is not really over budget, but that it has been caught short, just like the rest of the population, when gas prices started rising, food and other costs started increasing and loans were no longer as easily obtainable as they used to be. These folks also state that TABOR was shortsighted and should have been corrected years ago. In addition, this group is very much concerned about the standard of living in the area and is willing to pay for it via taxes.

Then we have the opponents, who proclaim that our city government is incapable, due to spending over budget, and that they, like the rest of the population, should learn how to tighten their belt, and that the whole issue about loosing programs (specially in the police department) is a smoke screen for collecting money from unsuspecting citizens. (Argument: Cops on traffic duty, collecting money that goes into the general fund of the city.) This group also states that our city government already holds out their hands for more than their share, specifically “illegal taxes” like the Stormwater Enterprise, and that the entire government would only vote themselves higher paychecks if the taxes were increased.

So now I’m wondering - what is your opinion on this? What side are you on - and WHY?

…was the title of an article in the Colorado Springs Gazette today. In it, the county proposes to increase our sales tax rate by 1% in order to make up for lost services and revenues and to stop cutting available services.

This would bring our sales tax from 7.4% to 8.4% - the example given in the article likened this to a $200 increase of price on a $20000 car. The discussion is - should this be on the November Ballot?

The last sales tax increase we had in this area, was in 2004, which pays for road building and maintenance in most parts of the county.

Read the article, and let me know - what is your opinion on this? Should taxes be increased? Or not?

Also - make sure to read the comments (underneath the article) - readers brought up some interesting points….

Would like more info? Per Gazette:

-To contact Citizens for Effective Government, e-mail concernedcitizens@csceg.org or visit www.csceg.org.
- The El Paso County commissioners will discuss budgetcutting options at a meeting starting 9 a.m. Tuesday on the third floor of the County Office Building, 27 E. Vermijo Ave. Anyone may attend.

More things to do in Colorado Springs…are you ready?

May 24-26 Territory Days - Old Colorado City, Colorado Springs, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. See http://www.territorydays.com for more info or call 719-475-0955.

June 7th - Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival, at Soda Springs Park, Manitou Springs. See http://www.manitousprings.org or call 800-642-2567.

June 14th to August 3rd - Colorado Renaissance Festival, Larkspur, CO, from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm  every weekend. http://www.coloradorenaissance.com.

July 19 - 26 El Paso County Fair, Fairgrounds, Colorado Springs. Call 719-520-7880 for info.

See you there?

Colorado Reptile Humane Societyis seeking homes for adoptable lizards, snakes, turtles and tortoises. Call (303)776-2070 or visit www.corhs.org for more info.

Black Forrest Animal Sanctuary is seeking homes for 20 hounds - from puppies to senior dogs - to assist their terminally ill owner. For information on adoption or to make a donation, call 494-0158 or visit www.bfasfram.org.

PEAK Parent Centeris recruiting volunteers to help with general office support and answering telephones. Call 531-9400 or e-mail volunteer@peakparent.org for more info.

Silver Key Senior Servicesurgently needs food donations. The Silver Key food pantry is almost empty and many seniors on fixed incomes rely on it when needs like rent and medication limit their ability to afford groceries. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at Silver Key, 2250 Bott Ave. Call 884-2300 for more.

World Heritage is seeking families, couples or single parents who are adventurous, fun-loving and responsible to host a foreign exchange high school student for the 2008-2009 school year. Call Jose at (800)888-9040 or visit www.world-heritage.org for more.

Chins Up is looking for foster parents to provide safe and loving homes to neglected or abused children. Training, support and financial reimbursement is provided. Call Jennifer at 327-2013 or visit www.griffith-centers.org for more information.

Have you ever wanted to climb in the Garden of the Gods?

Did you know that you have to register with the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center before you can climb? But if you neglect to do so - you can be find by the park rangers. (And yes - they ARE out there…)

Once you’re registerd - which only takes a few minutes (Honestly!) includes reading over the current rules (pay attention - there are always areas that are Off limits) and regulations and filling out a short form. It’s all done to be sure that you know what you’re doing!

Technical Climbing is permitted on established routes, in group of two or more - NO single climbing! (For safety purposes). Proper climbing equipment is MANDATORY and the use of eco-chalk is recommended/encouraged.

All other climbing or rock scrambling is ILLEGAL.

While this may sound harsh- it’s done - once again - for your safety. Tragic accidents have happened…and they are just trying to prevent them as much as possible. So be safe - and enjoy!

Thank you Zack Littlefield - for bringing this to my attention!

This is a call to Everyone in Colorado - to Dine Out on May 1st, 2008!

Why? Project Angel Heart is having a fundraiser in Colorado. Participating restaurants in Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs will donate 25% of their proceeds from May 1st. Approximately 350 restaurants are participating - so you can eat out for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and help Project Angel Heart.

Who are they? Their Mission is to provide: “Meals with love for people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses in Denver and Colorado Springs.”

They’ve also been named “Colorado’s Most Outstanding Non-profit Organization” by the El Pomar Foundation.

So - get together with family, friends and colleagues - and ”Dine Out For Life” - check out the participating restaurants; you can dine in Boulder, Golden, Evergreen, Downtown, Capitol Hill, Aurora, Colorado Springs and other places. Why not have fun for a good cause?

Can’t make it on the 1st of May? You can still donate and help a fellow citizen!

Hope to see you - out, about and eating out - on May 1st!

Love to play golf? Mark the day!

April 23rd the Pinewood Country Club is opening for the season. All 18 holes plus the driving range will be open!

This year - for the first time - you can also set up your tee times via the Internet.

Whether you’re from Colorado Springs, moving here or planning a visit - check out the new Colorado Springs Visitor Guide from the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

You can either read it online or you can have it mailed to you.

Just don’t wait too long - they do disappear rather fast.

You’ve been stuck in it, watched it, wondered about it….Colorado Springs’ ongoing Construction Projects.

Have you taken Austin Bluffs/Union lately? Can you believe how fast that overpass is going up? Seemed they were moving dirt forever…and then suddenly  - bam (to borrow a “phrase”) - the overpass is taking shape.

Now that we’re gaining experience in traveling through a town with various construction projects, are we ready for the “Biggie” - the widening of Woodmen? What do you think?

As for myself - I’m thinking that I’ll be trying to avoid that area as much as possible when it starts in earnest! (How many routes can you device to avoid that area? Specially when you live right OFF Woodmen? Any ideas?)

Tejon Street, downtown Colorado Springs, is no longer a one-way street. Starting today, the transformation into a ‘regular’ two-way street started, and is expected to be completed by Monday.

According to Dave Krauth, a City of Colorado Springs Engineer “Traffic will become a two-way road from Vermijo to Bijou. It is already two-way south of Vermijo and north of Bijou.”

Expect Springs Police to be out on Monday, to help confused drivers; which might be very helpful, considering that Tejon has been a one-way street for the past 37 years!