While sipping our coffee Sunday morning, we spotted an article in The Denver Post that looked to be more fiction than fact. Apparently, Lakewood is considering eliminating its tax on groceries. We nearly choked.
Based on pressure from a citizen coalition, The Post reports, the city is considering eliminating its 2 percent sales tax on food. The result: A potential decrease of $4 million to the city’s coffers.
While we commend the citizens for making the proposal, we are not convinced that this will mean smaller government for Lakewood residents.
After all, this is the same city that threatened to turn off city street lamps if voters didn’t approve a 2006 tax increase. And today, Lakewood property owners are facing the threat of eminent domain to make way for the prospect of lucrative private developments being pushed by RTD.
It appears that officials, including Mayor Bob Murphy, caved on their opposition to the measure after continuous citizen pressure by Natalie Menten and other residents who threatened a petition drive that would take the issue to a special election.
Instead, Murphy and the Lakewood City Council will consider the issue at a council meeting tonight. Murphy is already threatening that the loss in revenue resulting from the proposal could mean up to 50 city staff positions are cut. Are street lamps next to go? And will Murphy and his friends use this tax decrease as a political tool for asking for more money from voters in a future election?
Time will tell. But until then, we hope that residents of Colorado’s fourth largest city, many of whom are struggling with the rising costs of groceries, can enjoy the temporary reprieve at the cash register.
Great reporting guys
On April 28th, 2008 BlindingConditions says:
This has been on the news regularly since yesterday, each time including the plan to make up the difference by dropping a sales tax abatement at Colorado Mills and Belmar shopping centers. Did you miss this part of the story or intentionally leave it out because it doesn't fit your muddled reading of the Lakewood tax situation? And what does the RTD eminent domain controversy have to do with Lakewood, other than its most vocal residents happening to reside there? You've got good points to make about retail tax policy, but this item lacks facts, insight or plain common sense.
it was a good report
On April 30th, 2008 anarch says:
"And what does the RTD eminent domain controversy have to do with Lakewood..."
Lots, Lakewood helped kill off HB1278 thru the CML. RTD's TOD policy is to maximize financial benefit to RTD, since this is thru development, it pads Lakewood's general fund too. Don't believe it? Ask Kim & Galen at 14th & Wads to show you the very pretty conceptual picture Lakewood drew up for the property, assuming RTD takes it.