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Commissioner question - what is your position on TABOR?
Commissioner candidates were asked to explain their position on the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).
McKay said that TABOR is very restrictive and it limits the county's ability to keep up with progress and growth. "It will work for developed counties but is a burden for a developing county," McKay said. He said that commissioners need to go to the people and educate them on the burden TABOR places on Park County. He added that the only way people will vote for exempting revenue from TABOR is to be exact, in writing, about limiting where the money will be spent. "People don't have confidence that we'll use it for what we say," McKay added in closing.
Dowaliby agreed that TABOR can be restrictive, but said that the Taxpayer Bill of Rights is a good thing. "We don't want the government to take all of our money," he said. Dowaliby went on to say that the county government has to work hard to prioritize spending under the revenue limits.
Porter said that he recognizes that TABOR can "handcuff local governments," but that it is a good program. He said that it helps make government more efficient and promotes government accountability to the people.
(Answers reported in this article do not reflect everything said by the candidates. Please contact the candidates for more information.)
Commissioner question - how would you fund capital improvements?
Dowaliby answered this by saying that his town government had gone to the people in Alma and asked them what capital improvements they would pay for and how best to fund them. In the case of sidewalks for the town, he said, the citizens of Alma were willing to fund the project. He added that, with outside government regulations and requirements, the project first estimated at under $100,000 turned into one costing more than $2 million. Colorado Department of Transportation will fund the majority of the improvements, but Dowaliby stressed that it was important to maintain contact with the Alma residents who would be paying the town's share of the bill.
Porter said the biggest problem in Park County was a lack of leadership. He said that the county needs to identify potential revenue streams and to go to the public for funding. He added that the county really needed to look ahead and develop a five-year plan.
McKay discussed the county's past failed attempts to get approval from the voters for increased funding. He reiterated the importance of rebuilding trust with the voters. He said that the government needs to effectively explain to the public what its needs are and stay in communication with the taxpayers.
Commissioner question - what is Park County's major problem and your solution?
McKay stated that there isn't "one major problem, but several" and that roads are one issue at the top. He again mentioned serious trust issues in the county between the public and government officials and that rebuilding the trust is important to solving the county's problems. McKay went on to say that teamwork among county officials was important in restoring confidence.
Dowaliby cited broader transportation issues as a top concern. He emphasized the need to get Park County on an improvement plan because of the growth the county is facing. Another major concern, Dowaliby said, is protecting the county's valuable natural resources, including forests and, especially, water.
Porter's main concern is that developers are "not taking care of the people who live here" when they plan and build new developments. He also said that Park County doesn't pay enough attention to the people in the county who make this a better place to live. He added that people who work toward improving the county and get involved in local programs do not have their interests sufficiently considered by the county government.
(End of questions and answers)
No state or national candidates attended the meeting. Dave Wissel spoke about the Republican U.S. Congressional primary for House District 5, which covers most of Park County. While saying that Republicans have an excellent slate of primary candidates from which to choose, he said that he thought Jeff Crank was "the man for the job." Wissel added that Crank was endorsed by incumbent Congressman Joel Hefley, who will retire at the end of this term, and by District 6 Congressman Tom Tancredo. Tancredo represents the northeast corner of Park County.
Future Meet the Candidates events will be held in Guffey, Lake George, Hartsel and Bailey. (Click here for schedule.) The public is encouraged to attend at least one of these events to listen to the candidates present their views and answer questions important to the public.
