7/14/2010
Visiting the Divide Chamber of Commerce
It was great to visit with members of the Divide Chamber of Commerce at its monthly meeting and observe the planning for many events coming up soon. They are gearing up for their annual Divide Kite Flight on August 28 and are already working on their annual Christmas event. I was pleased to visit with them about the campaign and my plans and, I’m grateful that they allowed me plenty of time to talk about the Assessor’s office, the upcoming re-valuation period, and my background and experience.
7/12/2010:
Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum
The Chamber’s Candidates Forum was a huge success and City Council chamber were standing-room only. Check out the Assessor candidates face-off at http://www.tellernetcast.com/netcast-tv/archives/special-events/teller-county-candidates-forum-july-12,-2010.aspx, starting at 46:35. The questions posed to the candidates included:
What are your top three priorities? Mine are education, information, and customer service. Not just education of staff (which is a priority), but education of and to the public, since next year is a ‘reset’ (re-valuation) year. Making sure our citizens have the resources, methods and information at hand to protest their valuation is a high priority. I plan to be out and about the community and visiting with homeowner’s associations, business entities, chambers of commerce, and real estate professionals. Providing the proper information, as well as easy access to that information is critical.
How would you handle a 10% budget reduction? I would start with travel and training. I personally paid around $625 for three online appraisal courses to obtain a Registered Appraiser license. The Assessor’s current budget provide for over $2100 travel and training expenses to take these same courses – multiply that times two people, that is a potential reduction of $3000 for those two employees only! And there are more potential reductions for travel and training. I have other ideas, too, but wasn’t given adequate time to discuss those. While the incumbent disagreed with me on training as he felt that online courses result in a high failure rate, he had no suggestions.
Other questions involving the importance of using the income approach for commercial properties, the ‘weighting’ of the various three methods used, and the flexibility of the Assessor were posed.
This event is an excellent way to compare the candidates side-by-side, click here.
7/4/2010:
Old Fashioned July 4 at Woodland Park ’s Memorial Park a huge success!
July 4 was hopping with excitement at Woodland Park ’s Memorial Park as many, many locals and out-of-towners celebrated the 4th with fun, food, and more fun! I was pleased to meet so many people who were enjoying a beautiful, sunny day.
7/1/2010:
CML Municipal Elected Officials’ Leadership Training
I am pleased to have been awarded the Colorado Municipal League Elected Officials’ Leadership Training Program Level One Certification. CML offers many great opportunities for officials to receive training and education in issues affecting municipal governments, as well as opportunities for networking with other officials. It is a great forum for trading ideas and finding solutions to challenging problems, of which there are many these days.
6/26/2010:
Checking out Cripple Creek ’s Donkey Derby Days
What a great day at Donkey Derby Days! Meeting and greeting local people and business owners, as well as visitors. I was delighted to visit with a large number of veterans who were from the area or came for the day from down the pass.
01/29/10:
CML FISCAL ISSUES COMMITTEE & TAX IMPACTS
The Colorado Municipal League (CML) Fiscal Issues Committee met on January 29, 2010. The Committee consists of 20-25 members of local towns and cities who provide input and vote to take sides on pending issues of interest to towns and cities.
NO SURPRISE HERE – A guest speaker from TAG Strategies reported that a recent survey indicated that trust in government has declined significantly and has trickled down to lower levels in government at levels not seen before.
Here’s how the Committee voted:
NO POSITION yet on Proposition 101, which reduces or eliminates taxes on vehicle rentals and leases, vehicle fees, and the alternative minimum tax, and affects telecommunication fees. It will also reduce the income tax. CML is reviewing fiscal impacts.
OPPOSE HB 1093, which prohibits the County Tax Assessor from taking personal property into account when determining value. CML believes that Assessors have a hard enough time determining values and that this may REDUCE property valuations. STATUS AS OF 2/10/2010 – POSTPONED INDEFINITELY
OPPOSE HB 1129, which provides that if a property comes in more than 30% higher than the previous valuation, the property owner could pay the previous assessment while appealing. If the County loses the appeal, it would pay attorney fees. CML opposes because there is already a mechanism in place. The property owner can pay the tax and seek abatement after the appeal. STATUS AS OF 2/10/2010 – FAILED IN COMMITTEE
SUPPORT Senate Resolution 1, which creates a Fiscal Constitutional Commission to evaluate and recommend amendments to fix conflicts in the Constitution cause by various amendments. If approved, it must be approved by voters in November. NOTE: this Commission would have no elected officials on the committee. The committee would have appointees by the Governor, House, Senate, and Supreme Court.
The CML reported that Governor wants to remove or suspend various business exemptions (candy/soda, energy credits in manufacturing, internet affiliate advertiser’s tax). The Committee voted to support the tax on internet affiliate advertisers. STATUS AS OF 2/10/2010 – THE ‘DIRTY DOZEN’ TAX MEASURES PASSED, ALTHOUGH THE INTERNET BILL IS BEING MODIFIED.
01/13/10:
Economic Update for the State
Today (January 13, 2010), I attended the Economic Update for the State. Guest speakers included Don Elliman – COO for the State, Mark Cavanaugh – CFO for Colorado Dept of Higher Education & former Colorado Economic Recovery Director, and Don Marostica – Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade.
Don Elliman says we are going broke. Additional budget shortfalls are anticipated for 2011-2012 as property values will be reassessed. Citizens will need to decide what levels of service are acceptable.
Don Marostica said that people are not spending. You can’t get sales tax if people aren’t spending.
Three ballot initiatives are being proposed, which will be “catastrophic” if passed. [I will post more on this topic very soon.]
Click here to read more===> Economic Update for the State- 01/13/10
01/09/10:
The Teller Tea Party had another record turnout (400+ patriots) at its monthly meeting on January 9, a clear indication that the overflow crowd at the Ute Pass Cultural Center is mad as hell and isn’t going to take it anymore.
While the topic was “Throw the Bums Out”, one of the guest speakers talked about the Colorado caucus process. It is clear that independents (otherwise known in Colorado as “unaffiliated”) would be voiceless in the candidate selection for the coming election UNLESS they affiliate with a party and participate in the caucus process. It makes it hard to complain about not having choices in the upcoming elections, if you aren’t affiliated with a party. I should know – I was ‘independent’ for over 30 years and realized this past year that the party that I have always supported, the Republicans, had abandoned its principles and values, leaving me in a quandary. More coming!
01/09/10:
Teller Tea Party meeting Saturday, January 9, 1 p.m. at Ute Pass Cultural Center. Guest speaker will discuss “throwing the bums out” and using the caucus process. Caucuses are right around the corner. See you there!
11/16/09:
Finished Common Sense and moving on to Milton Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom (1962,1982) – One of his most notable and timely-for-today quotes: “The Great Depression in the United States, far from being a sign of the inherent instability of the private enterprise system, is a testament to how much harm can be done by mistakes on the part of a few men when they wield vast power over the monetary system of a country.” My, oh my, how true!
11/06/09:
Just finished Mark Levin’s Liberty and Tyranny and I’m now working on Glenn Beck’s Common Sense.
Planning to attend another Teller County Tea Party event on Saturday 11/7 at 1 p.m. at the Ute Pass Cultural Center in Woodland Park.
9/18/09:
Betty will be at Woodland Park Oktoberfest for the tapping of the keg at 5 pm.
She will be serving soft drinks from 7:30 to 10 pm on the 18th and 10:30 to 1:30 on the 19th.
Stop by and say, “Hello!”
