Survey responses highlight taxes, water

You may ... or may not ... be one of the more than 1,000 residents who participated in our March 5-13 2023 Citizen Survey, yet we believe you will want to know one of the most signi cant ndings this year: 72% of Douglas County residents agree their local tax burden is too high, almost double the results of the same survey question in 2021.

is is the highest “agree” response to the same survey question since 2006, the rst year Douglas County conducted a survey by Hill Research Associates.

We heard the sentiment again almost two weeks later at a March 28 live town hall dedicated to the special concerns of older adults.

We know this is a real concern and we know you need relief. We continue to engage with members of our state delegation, other local leaders and local taxing authorities on this issue.

Are you among those who aligned with the 73% who told us that an “adequate water supply that meets the long-term needs of county residents” is a high priority; and with the 78% who agreed with the statement: “Douglas County should centrally coordinate many water issues now administered by multiple water districts”?

We hear you and continue our work with county water providers as together we advocate for a solid, long-term water plan.

You may or may not be surprised by the analysis of our pollster, who noted for the second time since conducting the survey over two decades that partisanship was “pervasive and a driving force behind

Letters To The Editor

Misguided a ordable housing bill Senate Bill 23-213 is a 105-page jerrycan of gasoline ready to pour onto the re of housing shortages in Colorado. e bill’s title alone is 148 words long.

SB213 sets out to “diagnose and address housing needs across the state.” e Department of Local Affairs will manage “Several hundred million dollars for a ordable housing [that] will become available in the second half of 2023 due to the enactment of Proposition 123” (from the department’s website). at measure, approved by Colorado voters last year, authorizes one-tenth of 1% on federal taxable income taxes to be spent on a ordable housing.

e approach being taken in SB213 is to displace local zoning rules with a statewide mandate to incorporate a ordable housing everywhere. is misguided worldview ignores the natural balance of market forces and neighborhood sensibilities. e real shame is that nothing in this 105page radical masterpiece will resolve the actual housing troubles. Rather, it will simply move Colorado several steps closer to liberal utopia, which maintains an embarrassing track record of unsuccess.

Excessive housing costs, like so many other challenges that Coloradans face, are created by government meddling. We repeatedly hear from the Democrats that “we must do everything possible to x this problem.” And I repeatedly respond that they do not possess the humility to “do everything possible.”

A study by the National Association of Homebuilders concludes that, “Regulations imposed by all levels of government account for 23.8% of the current average sales price of a new single-family home …” NAHB Chairman added that, “ is study illustrates how overregulation is exacerbating the nation’s housing a ordability crisis and that opinions with sharp breaks in many results along party lines,” and attributes this to “increased partisan rifts stemming from the divisive national politics.” is is particularly evident on questions regarding the “direction of Douglas County” where 49% chose “wrong track” versus 48% “right direction,” which is the lowest “right direction” recorded in Douglas County in more than two decades.

Our pollster tells us that other perceptions, such as the response to “Douglas County has good government” and “Douglas County listens to the people’s voice” questions, have been waning over three or four consecutive surveys beginning in 2017, an indication that these are not just a one-year phenomena and may combine to explain the growing sense that “things in the county are on the wrong track.”

On the other hand, high levels of satisfaction were recorded for: parks and trails (92%); motor vehicle registration (88%); sheri ’s o ce (88%); and elec- policymakers need to take bold steps to reduce or eliminate unnecessary regulations that will help builders increase the production of quality, a ordable housing.” e Colorado Legislature should “do everything possible” to address a ordable housing by weeding out costly regulations from the existing laws. en, watch the magic of free enterprise do what it has always done — respond to demand with attractive supply.

Adding to the cost of regulation is the $250% increase in lumber costs thanks to the Biden administration’s in ationary supply chain mess. is accounts for an additional $35,872 premium to the average house. If the Democrats were honest with themselves, they would direct their attentions to reducing in ationary housing regulations. But their religious devotion to government micromanagement concludes as it always does; treatments for the symptoms while clinging to the causation.

Mark Baisley State senator for District 4, including rural Douglas County Woodland Park

Back assault-weapons ban

Cavitation (noun): the formation of an empty space within a solid object or body. is is the mechanism by which the ammunition from an assault-style weapon penetrates another person’s body. If that person happens to be a child, like the 19 children slaughtered at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022; or one of the three 8- and 9-year-olds from the Covenant School in Tennessee on March 27; then the impact and penetration will essentially liquefy their organs. I challenge anyone reading this to nd a reason why any American citizen who is not in the military SEE LETTERS, P19 tions management (82%).

And questions on which residents across all demographic categories agreed: Douglas County is a “good place to raise a family” (93%) and “a safe place to live and work,” (94%). Additionally, 88% agreed “property values are stronger than most” (88%); and 83% agreed Douglas County is a “friendly place.” is column was provided by Douglas County Commissioners Lora omas, Abe Laydon and George Teal.

We recognize — just as you do — that we do not always agree with one another and may also have di erent viewpoints from those we serve. We think this leads to healthy debate and better outcomes.

We are united in our belief that your opinion is valued. Survey ndings inform and guide our present and future decisions regarding services, communications and public engagement opportunities, spending priorities and planning. We hope you know our focus as stewards of the public trust is rst on the lives and livelihoods of all Douglas County residents and taxpayers. anks to all who participated in this survey. We encourage you to stay engaged with us — as a volunteer on our boards and commissions; as a participant in our live town halls, business meetings and public hearings; and we encourage you to subscribe to receive county news directly.

We encourage you to seek additional information on survey methodology, margin of error, resident outreach, and engagement details on the county’s website at https://bit.ly/3Gwqlkv.