Tax Incentive Charter Amendment

An Amendment to the Golden City Charter Regarding Developer Subsidies to the Voters

THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT TO THE GOLDEN CITY CHARTER IS HEREBY REFERRED TO THE VOTERS IN THE NOVEMBER, 1999, ELECTION: THE CITY SHALL NEITHER PAY, PAY BACK, WAIVE, NOR REIMBURSE ANY TAX OR FEE TO ANY DEVELOPER OR OTHER ENTITY UNLESS A SPECIFIC AGREEMENT IS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS. THE APPLICANT REQUESTING THE AGREEMENT MUST PAY THE COSTS FOR ANY SPECIAL ELECTION. YES_____ NO_____

Cast your own vote on the Charter Amendment:

Yes No Don't Know View

Shadow Council Member	Vote	City Council Member	Vote
Laura McCall, mayor (Ward 1)	YES	Webb Aldrich (Ward 1)	?
Don Parker (Ward 2)	YES	Jan Schenck, mayor (Ward 2)	?
Dave Kibler(Ward 3)	YES	Ed Ramstetter (Ward 3)	?
Jean Starling (Ward 4)	YES	Brian Starling (Ward 4)	?
Bob Nelson (At Large)	YES	Carol Johnson, mayor pro tem (At Large)	?
Valerie Walker (District 1)	YES	Bill McKee (District 1)	?
Bill Simpson, mayor, pro tem (District 2)	YES	Chuck Baroch (District 2)	?

Shadow Council Comments

Bill Simpson

"We want to open up a dialogue on two facets of the City's economic policy: (a) the apparent confusion of growth of tax revenue and increased quality of life for the community and (b) the wisdom of government subsidies for private enterprise.

At the May 13th Golden City Council meeting I spoke during public comment and requested on behalf of the Shadow Council that City Council work with the framers of the Charter Amendment to place it on the November ballot. My request was pointedly ignored both on May 13th and during City Council's May 20th Study Session.

Council's decision to duck an open discussion of the charter amendment is unfortunate but hardly surprising, and those of us favoring the subsidy amendment have little choice but to initiate the petition process.

I have no doubt that this citizen-initated repeal of municipal corporate welfare will pass by as substantial majority as the 1% growth ordinance."

[For the complete text of Bill Simpson's City Council Comments, click here.]

Laura McCall

 "Subsidies rob Peter to pay Paul. They represent fiscal irresponsibility and give the subsidized new businesses an unfair competitive edge offer the existing local businesses who do not get subsidies."