Gilpin County Board of Commissioners meeting

From the minutes of the Sept. 21, 2010, meeting of the Gilpin County Board of Commissioners:

County Manager Status Report. County Manager Roger Baker updated the  Commissioners on the following items:

Proposition 101 Potential Effects. County Manager Baker presented information the Bell Policy Center has compiled portraying the potential effects Proposition 101 could have on Gilpin County, if the ballot question passes in the November 2, 2010, general election. Graphs and charts demonstrated the current levels of vehicle ownership taxes and license fees; how those revenues are disbursed to Gilpin County, Central City, Black Hawk, the Gilpin County Schools, fire districts, the library district and other metro districts; and how a phased roll-back of those taxes and fees would reduce revenue if Proposition 101 were to pass.

Commissioner Nicholson said she had totaled the amounts listed as what the average vehicle owner pays in Gilpin County and had found that if the Proposition passes, that taxpayer could save $106.69 per year, but would lose significant services and critical funding for schools and special districts. She further stated that Douglas County officials had asked some citizens to organize citizen groups to independently review Proposition 101 as well as Amendments 60 and 61 and their potential impacts on government services and to find ways to share their findings with the general public. Commissioner Nicholson suggested the local newspapers invite people to form similar citizen groups and perform their own evaluation of the initiatives.

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Public/press comments: Lynn Volkens had questions about the Bell Policy Center's information sheet on Proposition 101 and some of its potential impacts on local governments. Commissioner Nicholson suggested Lynn Volkens contact the Bell Policy Center with her questions and to relay their responses back to the Board of County Commissioners and Gilpin County citizens.