Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper officially kicked off a campaign Tuesday for a $550 million bond package and tax increase to fund infrastructure projects and tapped a noted conservative fundraiser to co-chair the campaign. "Mayor (Federico) Peña said, 'Imagine a great city;' Mayor (Wellington) Webb built a great city; and now we have to be a great city," Hickenlooper said, rallying a group of supporters. Hickenlooper stood alongside Bruce Benson, an oil-industry executive and former state GOP chairman, who said the bond plan was a solid investment. "Our city has problems that we need to fix now," said Benson, who referred to himself as a "conservative businessman." "Any business knows that you must invest in your infrastructure or you'll lose money," he said. The gathering marked the start of the "Better Denver" campaign after more than a year of work to prepare a bond package for voters...
The proposed bond and tax revenue would go to dozens of projects, including replacing irrigation systems, rebuilding streets and overhauling Boettcher Concert Hall.
The voters will consider nine questions: One measure seeking to increase property taxes to raise $27 million each year for future maintenance, and eight items to pay for infrastructure and facility projects through $550 million in general obligation bonds.
The package will be on the Nov. 6 ballot as issues A through I.
But City Auditor Dennis Gallagher has cautioned that Denver residents already are facing Gov. Bill Ritter's property tax "freeze" approved by the legislature this year.
Gallagher, who has not decided whether to back Denver's bond package, said the state's action should be factored in when Denver residents go to vote. "At current estimates by the Colorado Legislative Council, (property taxes in Denver) will go up by at least $17.7 million - and this, of course, is before any possible increases related to this November's ballot," Gallagher said in a news release...
Seven ballot questions were approved unanimously by the City Council last month, but Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz voted against two issues - the 2.5 mill levy increase and a proposal for new cultural facilities, calling them tax increases. Faatz said the whole package would increase taxes for the owner of a $255,000 house - the average home price in Denver - by $61 a month. Gallagher noted that would come on top of $36 a month in state taxes...
Voters will see these nine items on the November ballot:
A. Capital maintenance mill levy to raise $27.5 million (in 2007 dollars) annually to pay for regular maintenance.
B. Health and Human Services facilities: $48.6 million
C. Libraries: $51.9 million.
D. Transportation and Public Works: $149.8 million.
E. Park system facilities: $93 million
F. Public office facilities: $10.3 million
G. Cultural facilities deferred maintenance: $60.5 million.
H. Cultural facilities new construction: $70 million
I. Public safety facilities: $65.2 million
