It seems as though everyone has an opinion on the bond issues to come before us. Wouldn’t it be enlightening to have some perspective on the issues to see what outcome would be best? Certainly that is a novel idea in Estes Park, with numerous questionable changes that have taken place without public input or comment and without any vote at all.
The Town is requesting a fire district be created throughout the valley. There is no clear explanation of the need for a fire district, but this is what Baudek, et.al. have to say:
“Wouldn’t it be a shame if we got down the road and had to limit services?” Note- they didn’t say they would limit services, just that “wouldn’t it be a shame.”
The more important question is: How responsible is the Town with money? The claim is always: “We need more money.”
There have been some recent expenses that should be scrutinized very carefully before one even considers approving more money going to these morons.
$300,000 earmarked for empty polluting busses that nobody wanted and nobody was asked about and nobody had the opportunity to vote for.
$500,000 for our 47% share of sidewalks to be built in another community, not in our Town, but paid for by the local taxpayers.
$60,000 for the pool that the schools are supposed to run (the schools are asking for more money in a bond issue to add to the budget they can’t now manage in running the pool).
How much? $200,000 to $300,000 that the Town wants to give to the county to help pay for a park which is not in our Town, not part of a county or Town plan on protecting our gateway. Just a “good idea” thought up by the idiot Town Manager, Mayor and Trustees. Baudek has said- What if they build a WalMart?
No one, not HP, the county, the state, NO ONE has suggested that this property be used for commercial purposes, but even if they did, it is none of the Town of Estes Parks business. Not with my money!
Approximately $300,000 to support the Scotfest. Did you vote for that? Oh, that’s right, you don’t vote. The Scotfest does very little for the Estes economy because they don’t collect tax. The shoppers who would be downtown helping our taxpaying merchants are at the fair grounds. Net gain, loss of at least $200,000, but Baudek gets to ride in the parade.
That’s well over $1,300,000 given for out of town projects, and these are just examples of dozens of like projects that get sponsored- Kayak course, the Knoll, re-model of Town Hall (twice), upcoming performance center, on and on. That’s real money folks, and it’s ours.
They can’t take care of the Town, much less everyone else. It would be complete stupidity if anyone votes for a fire district. This Town is always on the prowl for more money and they can’t spend if fast enough. The truth is that if they had more money for a fire district they would take the money they now spend on fire protection and put it toward more infrastructure, higher salaries and more give-a-ways to nearby communities. This has to stop.
Project by project this Town has shown that they are not fiscally responsible. Our money gets shuffled off to pet projects and is not spent to benefit the tax payers. These people are out of control and should never get access to more money.
Maybe, for once, people will be smart enough to vote and to turn down any request for money which will not benefit this Town one bit. Vote NO, Vote NO, Vote NO!
