The city of Colorado Springs was featured on the CBS Evening News on Monday.
The segment included Mayor Steve Bach and businessman Richard Skorman, a former city councilman who ran against Bach for mayor.
The central issue was taxes.
“I don’t think we’re in a crisis,” Bach said. “But we’re headed toward a crisis.”
Skorman said he thinks the city will have to raise taxes.
“I know it’s a sin to use those words in Colorado Springs,” Skorman said.
CBS said Bach, who signed a no-tax pledge when he ran for mayor, is having second thoughts.
“I hope the citizens, somewhere in the future, will decide that we should have more stable revenue, which does mean property tax revenue,” Bach said.
Here is video of the segment:
An agenda driven story. How sad (but not surprising) that the media and Richard Skorman would use the tragedy of Waldo Canyon for political purposes. I’m glad that we had our Mayor lead us through this crisis.
Dumbest move Bach could have ever possibly made. That silly pledge means absolutely nothing, but if he goes against it then Jeff Crank and “the party” are going to make his life miserable. The saddest part is that he could have won without Mr. Irrelevant Jeff Crank (who doesn’t exactly have the best success in campaigns, I might remind everyone)
Don’t forget, Mr. Mayor, there IS such a thing as a popular tax…..such as TOPS, which was overwhelmingly renewed by vote.
As if COS didn’t have enough negative press…thanks CBS. what a hit piece!
Always Colorado Springs vacillates about Public issues between rigid Conservatism (Bach) and free-spending Liberalism (Skorman) and except for occasional tips of the hat toward ‘compromise’ every issue is a battle.
There are THREE, not TWO, political poles. The Third element which Americans embrace when issues come up, and which makes the trains run on time, is called PRAGMATISM. Principled Pragmatism.
Sometimes this is confused with political ‘Independents’ who in fact are more often Pragmatic than ideological.
If our Political ideologues would read Henry James ‘Pragmatism’ they would better understand how Americans manage to press forward and more than not get the job done. And more than any other society on earth, Americans, in the end, get things done
.A belief was true, he said, if it worked for all of us, and guided us expeditiously through our semihospitable world.
Or in my words the core of Pragmatism, is the view that “If it works, it is true”
It is the rigidity of ideologues that are more often obstacles, regardless of what the Polls say, and the Votes count, than anything else.
I led the successful economic revitalization of the 100 businesses in Old Colorado City and sparked the resurgence of the 8,000 residences and their rise in value on the Westside between 1976 and 2000 by being more ‘Pragmatic’ – in the use of City and Federal tax dollars, a lot of small scale Private enterprise, Historic preservation, and use of the earliest Internet, even creating a new Tax district, than all the ‘either-or-private/public’ conservative-liberal, debate that divides this city together..
If Bach tackled the problems of this city more Pragmatically, than ideologically (don’t raise taxes) they would be solved quicker. AND the pragmatic Colorado Springs public would support him.
the teabaggers will soon enough be bounced right out of government…even in this village. enough of the racist tight wads.
Bach lead us through a crisis? Really? Bach ignored the recommendation of two experts that Mountain Shadows should be evacuated when the fire got into Queens Canyon and instead botched the whole thing. This guy knows nothing! He says we are not in a crisis but tells a crowd of people at the Briargate townhall meeting that the city is going to be broke soon. He was completely inappropriate with the people that attended but Chaco does not report on that. Bach is joke, a puppet on a string being pulled by Steve S and Steve B. Bach and his cronies, starting with Dougan must be defeated in the next election.
LouieT,
What do you mean the mayor was completely inappropriate with the people that attended the town hall? Please provide specific examples.
Thanks.
BTW, it’s Chacon, not Chaco.
…great to see the Mayor and the City profiled on national television…of course the reTHUGlicans, teebeggers and Chamber puppeteers are howling like banshees at having the country see their little fiefdom exposed to the harsh but curative powers of the light of day.
BTW
mitt ain’t fitt and ryan is lyan
I think Mr Hughes notes on pragmatism are spot-on.
I consider myself a moderate Republican, so I’m somewhere in the middle of the liberal-conservative scale.
I don’t really want higher taxes, but as Bruce mentions above (TOPS) it would depend on what the tax was for.
I would want to know what I’m paying for, and why, and know that the funds have full adult supervision.
Bach wobbles more then a three legged bar stool
Mr Chacon,
You were there. How about when the mayor attacked the gentleman who was a teacher for asking a simple utility question. He took two steps toward him shaking his finger in a threatening manner wanting to know if he was a utility employee or plant. How about all the other people who were quickly shut down when they asked a question or brought up a point that was questioning the Mayor’s position? This was not a dialogue it was agree with the mayor or suffer his wrath? You call that meeting a townhall meeting? Please.
Bach needs to address the problem of runaway benefit costs – as the reason there is no longer any money to fix potholes, etc., is that all the general fund money is being spent in those areas.
As for last night’s “news” on CBS – it was just another propaganda spin piece for the pro tax and spend types. I’m surprised the Mayor would fall for such a cheap trick.
Wouldn’t any tax increase proposals fall under TABOR and have to be voter approved? I
First of all, I don’t mind the man changing his mind after getting more knowledge, experience, and information. But who couldn’t see the problems even before the fire? I am sick of politicians signing pledges to special interest groups when their allegiance should be with the citizens ONLY.
Bach should stop pandering and focus on the city’s best interests. In addition, I feel that he needs to deal with criticism a little better, it comes with the job.
If the tax request comes with specific use details and there are assuarnces that it will onlt be spent that way I have lettle issue with a tax increase. What I don’t want is just more money going into government and they spend it anywhere and anyway they decide and then come back for more when the real work needs to get done.
Having lived in the city for six years, my property taxes paid about $60 to the city a year….this was based on about a $200,000 home. This is for ALL city services including police and fire. Look at a town like Monument for example. For the same price home, well over $100 goes to the fire department alone. Something is wrong with that picture. The city has some of the lowest property taxes in the state if not the country and needs to do a little something for sustainability instead of relying on sales tax. I think it would help if the voters could determine where an increase in property tax would be applied specifically instead of just raising taxes for council and the mayor to determine where and how it is spent.
lol and you thought prices could keep riseing and what we dont have to pay for it? really? some people really have their collective heads in the clouds!
as prices for services go up so does taxes…is greed a wonderful thing!!! say yes you know it is!!
One of the first places this city needs to spend additional taxes, is on more police. For a city this size, there aren’t nearly enough police. Just look at the increase in crime in the south part of the city. Are all of the police spending their time in the north part of town so that there aren’t any left for the south side?
You cheapskates in Colorado Springs always want something for nothing.
You want the Southern Delivery System but refuse to instutite a tax to take care of rainwater. So the rainwater comes down the Fountain and creates problems for your neighbors. You don’t care as long as you get the water. Pueblo should abrogate the agreement because you defaulted.
Your own tight fisted financial policies are ruining the city.
Get a clue.
I don’t know why any politician makes ‘no tax’ pledges. With Tabor, it’s not up to politicians to decide taxes, it’s up to the people, so it’s irrelevant if a politicians supports or condemns a potential tax, they have no say so in the matter.
Colorado Springs has money they want more money to keep our lights off weeds ten feet tall on Circle and Powers. If your in the loop you will have jobs (Clean up of Waldo Cayon) The little business man don’t have a chance in hell.
No to TAXES live within your means
Too funny
No more taxes Bach! We trusted you could run the budget without stabbing us in the back, do not dissapoint us and become a tax and spend liberal.
I work for the city and I can tell you it is not a revenue problem, it is a waste of money problem. Most of the budget does not go back into services for the people of the community, it goes into early retirements and disability payments for the police departments. PERA retirements take up a massiver amount of the money. That is where the money is really going, there is not a lack of tax funds.
In all fairness, C.B.S merely provided -much needed- confirmation
for Bach and his fellow-Fascists: “Ye shall reap, as YE HAVE SOWN.
Colorado Springs (and The Gagzette), what did you expect roses?
Thomas Burke, I really question whether you work for the city. The way you speak of PERA you sound more like lipstick for Bach. Maybe you should discuss the money wasted on Bach appointments or the outside legal fees paid due to Melcher. Sell your bs somewhere else.
Small fortune to harvest in the benefits that can be put to better use. If the employees do not like it they can quit and be replaced in a hour by a more qualified person at less cost.
Stu, why don’t we just go to a volunteer police and fire department…..that will fix everything. Benefits are part of how you gain quality employees. The springs is already behind the times with benefits and pay. Police and fire just took another cut this year in medical to be right in line with the private sector to help balance the budget.
Lets do it. This catch phrase of “quality employees” is just that. We are not recruiting the top 10% from the top 10% of universities.
Last year I paid 21 cents per day in taxes for city services. Even though I live in an inexpensive condo, this is a ridiculously low amount. Most people who claim to pay too much in taxes have no clue what they actually are paying to the city.
Mr Chacon,
I’ve waited several day to see if you would address the question that Louie T addressed to you. Are you intentionally skirting that question or is it true that you are concerned that Steve B and his well funded friends are going to become your new owners and you don’t want to bite the potential hand that may feed you?
Well Stu we can see that your a life owes me a living jealous individual who probably planned poorly for yourself so you want to see benefits taken away from others. It is fairly evident your education level is no higher than the curb.
Beemerman, you are correct that it is a fact the Bach’s puppeteers are going to buy the Gazette and we will see no more articles against the dictator. That is what Mr. Chacon is afraid of. Bach and his cronies intend to completely control the dialogue and utilize the Gazette to support their power take over control. The people of this city really need to see the truth behind this guy and his puppeteers or no one will recognize this place in a few years. It will start with redistricting and then Bach trying to grab power on City Council by getting his cronies elected. He will then try and complete his conquest by indirect control over the utility board. Do you think there is a reason Boulder is throwing Xcel out and voted for their own municipality? Let’s see if Bach is transparent, I doubt it, about who he is supporting for council during the next election. People need to find out and vote against them. We already know housewife Dougan is in his back pocket so we need to vote her out next time as well. I am sure that people did not equate strong mayor to dictator but that is what we have and we need to reverse it.
Louie T please provide the facts you speak of in regard to the purchase of the Gazette. A strong Mayor is a dictatorship; he has the last and final say! You are just attempting to stir up discord for something that does not exist.
I suggest you seek out a mental health professional and start therapy before your city health insurance changes.
Hit a nerve did I Frank. Let me suggest you pull your head out of you know where, it is obvious you are suffering from a lack of oxygen.
Louie you hit no nerve, I am waiting for you to supply verifiable facts to back up your claims or are you just lying? If you cannot supply the facts then there is no need for you to respond with your unstable banter.
I watched the CBS piece and didn’t find it to be a “hit piece” at all. Skorman didn’t say fiscal policy caused the fire, he said “how are we going to pay for it?” The city will pay millions for the recovery efforts, not to mention the actual cost of paying our brave police and firefighters who fought it. The mayor is correct, the city needs to find a more reliable tax base. The city has fixed expenses; eg. police, fire, infrastructure. A tax base that relies totally on consumer spending is subject to wild swings as we saw in the downturn–and tourism loss because of the fire itself. Perhaps we could gradually shift from sales tax to property tax revenue? — by stepping down the sales tax with a gradual shift to property taxes. Property owners aren’t the only ones who pay property taxes, renters pay through the rent they pay to the landlord. I want to live in a city where we have adequate or better police and fire protection, good roads, well kept parks, and functioning libraries. These things cost money.
I appreciate the comment about well kept parks. The average resident only pays @ $24 per person per year to support their parks. (Proportion of property and sales tax in general fund used for parks, trails and open space). When you consider we have 138 neighborhood parks, 100+ miles of urban trail, plus thousands of acres of regional parks and open spaces – that’s pretty amazing.
But we’re not keeping up and there’s a backlog of needs that grow each year.
Hey Frankie, a strong mayor is a dictatorship? What communist country are from? I realize you are a cronie of the mayor but dictatorship??????
Fact one, whay has Mr. Chacon not responded????? Seems like the only one who is unstable is the one who believes a dictatorship exists.
I attended our Strong Mayor’s Town Hall last Wednesday, and was astonished at Mayor Bach’s consistent defense that he ”is a businessman and not a politician.” I went home puzzled and slept on it. I woke up in a dream and realized I was standing on the deck of the Titanic and there were two elephants on the deck. I ran to the bridge and realized the captain was the mayor, Steve Bach.
Mr Mayor, I yelled, the ship is sinking. Why are there two elephants on the deck? He replied their names are SRB (street, roads and bridges) and Stormwater. He said he was required to carry them. He then handed me a bag of peanuts. Here, please feed them. Each peanut represents a police/fire pension and healthcare costs. We can keep them at bay if we just feed them.
But sir, the ship is still sinking , shouldn’t we turn on the pumps. Sorry we can’t, was his reply. It would disturb the guests… and I want to sell the CSU pumps when we get into port. But you said we would not make it to port. His reply, I know but I’m only a businessman and not a politician. Save yourself…
Bach is a salesman. He is not a true businessman he is a salesman a real estate sales person. He has never actual produced anything and has no idea how to produce anything.