Dear Editor,

Regarding the letter to the editor in The Mountain-Ear June 22, 2023 edition titled “Gilpin Commissioners, are you listening,” written by Ms. Donna Parman.

Ms. Parman’s letter was remarkable for its short-sightedness, lack of generosity and apparent lack of concern for the young and the hungry. It was also inaccurate. She recommends going back to a mode of financing the Community Center that has been shown to be disastrous, expresses a lack of concern for people needing food assistance, minimizes the needs of young people and cherry picks “facts” to support her position. She seems to be unaware that comparing expenses from 10 years ago to current expenses without adjusting for inflation is incorrect and deceptive. 2023 is a much different time than 2013. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics expenses are at least 31% higher now.

Ms. Parman thinks that the Community Center, which is a “jewel” of the County, should revert to dependence on gambling for its funding, which failed completely when the pandemic hit and could again. The money from gambling first goes to County functions that are required by state law. One third of that money goes to the Sheriff’s Department, the rest is distributed to public works, maintenance, County salaries and so on. Only if there are extra funds left over does any money go to the Community Center and there’s the problem – no guaranteed funding!

She complains about the proposed renewal of a 2.57 mill levy, making it sound like a new tax, when in fact it’s been in place for 2 years. Speaking of that tax, taking the new (2023) assessed value of my home, my payment for the Community Center will be approximately $146 per year, $12 a month or 40 cents per day (my home is somewhere in the middle range of assessments in the County). Voters are free to decide if this will break the bank for them, but I doubt it will. In addition, if Proposition HH passes assessments may be reduced, but that’s speculative at this point.

Unless we want Gilpin County to become a place for the old it’s imperative that we support young people including teenagers and young couples with children. The lack of childcare is already causing couples with young children to leave the County. Losing the services of the Community Center would make it even more difficult for them.

In a larger context Gilpin County has one of the lowest property tax rates in Colorado so we can afford to fund our Community Center. Almost all Parks and Recreation facilities throughout the State are paid for by the people, not by outside sources. Let’s treat the Community Center like the library, another “jewel” of the County, that has a permanent source of funds.

I support the County Commissioners placing this issue on the ballot so the voters of the County can decide for themselves.

Note: If you want to calculate the amount you will pay for the Community Center mill levy, multiply the Current Value on your 2023 Notice of Valuation by .06765, then multiply the result by .00257 (the mill levy). Example: $800,000 x .06765 = $54,120 x .00257 = $139.09.

Sincerely,

Eric Douglas

Gilpin County