Growth Critic Supports Tax Increase

SaveTheSprings founder Dave Gardner opposed the last tax increase because first he wanted new developments to pay their fair share. So now he is surprising many by endorsing a tax increase for El Paso County in Colorado. His rationale might surprise you, too!

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Nonprofits & Activism

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• Colorado
• Springs
• El
• Paso
• County
• Tax
• Increase
• 1A
• Dave
• Gardner
• growthbusters

[SaveTheSprings]

I think I see your point: a growing city can work just great as long as you're willing to pay higher taxes to cover the costs of growth, right? See the tax rates of the larger cities. I didn't say growth is bad. I said growth does NOT provide the great prosperity most believe. The facts clearly support that claim. If you disagree, joseppie, please provide some evidence, as I have in my video.

[josseppie]

Another thing is the Springs residents do not want to invest in their community. El paso County is over 500,000 people and Pueblo County is 150,000 yet our downtown is a lot bigger. One reason is because we invest in such projects as the riverwalk, ice arena, and our convention center. Now high rises are being planned, grand garden's devlopment, condos, a federal court etc. The new 4th street will be bigger then any street in downtown Springs. Why Pueblo remains Colorado's Second city.

[josseppie]

Bigger cities usually have a higher cost of living that is true but growth does provide prosperity for the cities that have grown. All you have to do is look at most big cites and compare them to smaller cites, the income level is usually higher, more jobs, more things to do and the people are usually more open minded.

[josseppie]

The Problem with the Springs is not its growth but the peoples lack in community sprit, Pueblo is growing, we have developments planned here that dwarf anything in the springs, but we do not have the same issues because we do not neglect our city services and have a proper tax level, not to hi but not so low as to cover our needs.

[josseppie]

If it was just a growth issue then there would be no large cities in America today and all the bigger cities would be so financially run down that everyone would be leaving, that is not the case. Just look at Chicago, NYC, Orlando etc, they have had tremendous growth and all have done well, they have issues (just as any city) but overall they are fine places to live. If you like small cities that great but to say growth is bad and the cause of the Springs problems cannot be supported by facts.

[josseppie]

You make absolutely no sense, it is not the growth that is hurting the Springs but the far right mentality of most of the Springs residents and how they don't want to have the tax level at the necessary level to pay for essential city services.