Dear Editor,

The Gilpin County School receives substantial funding (7 figures) from the city of Black Hawk through food and beverage, lodging, and sales tax revenue. There is one stipulation though. In order to continue this funding, Gilpin County shall not impose any sales tax on its residents.

This P&R mill levy, Ballot Issue 1A, is a roundabout way of imposing a sales tax on residents without calling it a sales tax. Ballot measure 1A states:

1. Is dedicated to Parks & Recreation.

2. Can be used for anything with voter approval. (Therefore, it is not dedicated to P&R.)

3. Is based on the actual value of your house. (Tax year 2023)

4. It is in perpetuity. (meaning it will never end)

5. Is a fixed mill levy.

6. Is adjusted annually for inflation and local growth. (Therefore, not fixed)

7. Is De-Bruced (Article X (10), Section 20 of the Colorado constitution) overriding TABOR regulations making this tax exempt.

You can see, the above points of ballot measure 1A make no sense. It contradicts itself, is never-ending, adjusts yearly, can be used for any wants deemed “necessary” by our leaders through a vote, and circumvents TABOR.

Renters, you will also be dramatically affected too. Landlords are in the business of renting to you for a profit. They will not absorb this tax, rather pass this tax through to you in the form of higher rents. Renters beware!

So, what is this thing called De-Brucing? Colorado’s TABOR law mandates all excess taxes collected must be returned to the taxpayers and puts a cap on government spending. Think about it, this issue is based on 2023 actual residential property value which will increase dramatically in 2024 generating more tax revenue. Through De- Brucing, this money will be kept by the Gilpin County government in their coffers and not returned to you. De-Brucing circumvents TABOR and is named after TABOR’s author, Representative Douglas Bruce.

Measure 1A is a blank check enabling two commissioners and other bureaucrats to steal and spend our money any way they deem fit. You are smart Gilpin voters, don’t be tricked into voting for this. With the state assessed property values increasing in tax year 2024 approximately 45%, this is the equivalent of giving a bottle of water to a drowning person.

Hold our leadership accountable for spending, taxing, legislating, and budgeting. P&R has been funded and maintained since its inception without any new tax, why a new tax now?

A copy of this commissioner voted on and passed resolution 23-63 on 8/22/2023, data analysis provided by taxpayers, and the raw data provided by Gilpin County can be found at 4aserv.com/1a. I encourage you to take a look, especially the labor numbers and the gaming revenue increase of $851,996.00 for Gilpin County this year.

John Dunham

Gilpin County