Museum "gate revenues" a.k.a. ticket money, used for political campaigning
Face the State Staff Report
DENVER - A citizen's coalition "made up of 100 city and community leaders."
That's how Better Denver, the campaign selling $500 billion in increased property taxes to voters this November, describes the process that brought about ballot issues 1A-I.
But those funding Mayor John Hickenlooper's campaign have much deeper pockets than the average city resident. According to campaign finance documents obtained by Face the State, Better Denver was able to tap 54 companies and individuals to make contributions of $1,058,600 in the month of September. This total computes to a median donation of $5,000 with an average overall investment of over $19,600.
Among the campaign's largest donors are the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, which gave $300,000, the Colorado Symphony Association, which provided $125,000, and M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., a sister company to Richmond American Homes, which chipped in $100,000.
By comparison, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer raised $802,570 in the third quarter from 3,566 donors, translating to an average donation of just over $225.
"I'm really surprised to see just how few people are truly behind the Better Denver campaign," said Aimee Rathburn, a resident of southwest Denver. "Are the people who donated to the nature and science museum or the Colorado Symphony aware their gifts are being used to play politics and raise taxes?"
It's not just donations that have been routed to political committees instead of supporting infrastructure at Denver's cultural attractions. According to Laura Holtman, spokeswoman for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, every paying visitor to the museum contributes indirectly to the campaign. "The Museum has been budgeting for this campaign for a while, and the money contributed to the campaign came out of gate revenues," she said. "Just as we consider this to be an investment in the museum, we consider Better Denver to be a necessary investment in the city."
The museum is supported in large part by a regional sales tax levied by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, which in 2006 contributed over $7 million to its operating budget.
Rathburn, a former Republican candidate for State House District 1, voiced concern over the museum's explanation. "Ticket sales and 'gate revenues' contribute to the museum's budget in just the same way as taxes do," she said. "If any income is being redirected to political campaigns, it means taxpayers are picking up the tab. Hickenlooper's 'coalition' turns out to really be a small group of wealthy donors who stand to gain millions in passing this tax increase."
While donations to issue committees such as Better Denver are not capped by state law or Denver ordinance, such massive infusions of cash demonstrate inequalities in campaign finance policy. Donations to candidates such as Rathburn are limited to $400 per person, per two year election cycle. "Why can government entities spend hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayers money to raise millions more, but a concerned citizen can't give anywhere near that amount of their own, hard earned money to a deserving candidate?" she asked.
Information about the financial backing for Denver's largest-ever tax increase isn't easy to come by. The report is absent from the Denver City Clerk's online campaign finance website and calls to the city clerk's office for the report went unanswered for over a week. Face the State obtained Better Denver's campaign finance report only after visiting the clerk's office in person.
Perhaps you all are crazy.
On October 24th, 2007 Denver14 says:
1. It's not only these reports that are hard to find.
The Clerk & Recorder does not publish ANY of the financial reports online in a timely manner.
2. SCFD money is not being spent on the campaign, I've spoken with the museum to confirm that fact. SCFD money is spent towards their operation budget and all money is carefully documented. Contact SCFD if you need to see that documentation.
and 3. If I choose to go to the museum then I am giving them my money-however they invest that money, is up to them. I turn that over once I pay. This is no different than a lot of other things going on.
Why don't we try thinking before you react how crazy it is.
SCFD campaign
On October 24th, 2007 faststream@live... says:
SCFD rents exhibits which are travelling exhibits. Insurance is required to protect these valuable exhibits. Facilities have to be built and maintained according to high level security and maintenance requirements according to insurance rules. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science has done its very best to provide you with an opportunity to see exhibits that can be rented so you can see them. We who volunteer at the museum realize that many critics have never been to the museum, never intend in their life to visit the museum, and do not want any of their friends or family to even entertain a notion of going to the the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Be that as it may. Schools in Colorado are not prepared to educate our youth and future taxpayers about some very valuable lessons in science and culture. Families can choose to educate their family members through a variety of resources including libraries, events, museums, activities. I suspect that when a leak in your roof appears, you just let it go because you realize that sooner or later you will be moving out of that home, and the person who buys it will have to repair the leak or tear down the building. That is what infrastructure is...it's repairing roofs, plumbing, electric outlets. It is a part of maintenance. Buildings suffer from extremes of long periods of heat in summer, freezing ice packs in winter, hail storms periodically, tornado like wind storms several times a year. Little cracks become big cracks. Yes it is important for everyone in the area to pitch in their $2.20 to repair the roof. And I rather suspect that is the total amount your family paid in 2006 taxes to help SCFD's Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The tax was intended to be insignificant. A mere 1/10th of 1 cent of every $10 you spent (and only on those things collecting taxes). The Museum has always raised money from donors to help pay those enormous insurance expenses, and the costs of moving and shipping exhibits to and from our area. Security, movers, construction workers, on-site maintenance these are the people who come with the exhibit and the insurance. There are free days at the Museum and you don't have to pay the City of Denver to park in City Park. You have activities for the entire family to enjoy. The people who spend $2,500 for a ticket to a mere baseball game will never understand your argument. Those of us who volunteer at the museum and have witnessed roof leaks and buckets to catch the drips realize its time to pitch in. The State of Colorado used to finance culture before it created SCFD. It did so in order for 5 Counties to develop cultural events approved of by elected city and county and school district officials. Some of the other buildings needing similar repairs were designed at a time when the population of Colorado was only a couple of million people living all over the State. SCFD keeps very strict records because absolutely every govenment in the 5 County areas shares this one tax pot. So merely go to your City Council representative or your County Commissioner representative and get their opinion.
Misappropriation of Tax Revenue
On October 24th, 2007 russj says:
I live in Boulder County, so my Scientific and Cultural Facilities District sales taxes support the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Why are my tax dollars going to support a political campaign in Denver?
This is misappropriation of tax revenue--plain and simple.
Colorado Russ
This is nuts!
On October 24th, 2007 sheblogger says:
So every time I go to the museum, I'm paying for a tax increase that has been in the works for years! How can Hickenlooper claim A-I were developed through a citizen coalition, when this has all been planned for years. What a joke.