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Englewood Herald 7
January 10, 2014
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to develop a bipartisan budget plan that materially reduces the deficit and puts our country on a more sustainable fiscal
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Every time this happens I feel a little older. I look in the rear view mirror and see my life back there, back when I might have had the Yardbirds turned up. What if a kid in the car next to me were listening to “Heart Full of Soul”? Maybe I would
path. If Washington can learn from the example Colorado has set, we will have the opportunity get back to work for the American people and to begin to meet the challenges facing our nation. My new year’s resolution is to remain committed to working with any Republi-
can or Democrat who wants to find thoughtful, innovative solutions that will ensure our competitiveness and leadership in the 21st century.
give him a pass. I don’t like bass to begin with. I zero it out in my car and in my home. If I want a pounding sensation in my head, I’ll just use a rubber mallet. Driving around in an automobile, ball cap on backwards, music loud, has to make you feel alive and maybe even someone when you are not. Look at me. You can’t ignore me. You’re
stuck with me now. One day coincidentally, Throbbing Bass and I pulled into the same parking lot and walked to the same store. I said, “You like that Black Sabbath, don’t you?” He just said, “Huh?”
Democrat Michael Bennet has represented Colorado in the U.S. Senate since 2009.
Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@ comcast.net.
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it’s going to be detrimental to them has not let up,” said House Minority Leader Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland. “If the rural peoples’ voice is wanting to be beard, I hope that Ferrandino and his crew will at least take a look at that.” The House GOP will introduce a slate of bills that would reduce regulations on small businesses and will focus on helping economies in rural communities, DelGrosso said. DelGrosso said that last year’s session was more “left-centric” than what Coloradans had bargained for. He said that voters’ resentment over major pieces of Democrat-sponsored legislation was apparent during the recall election losses by Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs and Angela Giron of Pueblo. Evie Hudak of Westminster resigned rather than face her own recall attempt. “I think some of the gun debate obviously started that, but I think overall the folks
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struggled financially over the past few years. Revenues have been flat or declined while the cost of operating a full-service city has risen steadily with increases in the cost for utilities and supplies. Additionally, higher health-insurance costs and wage increases have also had an impact. This year’s budget was built over about nine months and adopted in December 2013 and was based on 2014 revenue and spending forecasts. The 2014 budget that was adopted by the city council expects Englewood’s total revenue collections would be about $90.1 million and estimated spending for the year would be $96.5 million. “The total revenue and spending figures for 2014 do not balance,” Gryglewicz said. “However, the individual funds will make up the difference between revenues and spending by drawing on reserves in order to balance the budget.” Englewood’s general fund makes up almost 44 percent of the total city budget and 70 to 80 percent of the general fund is earmarked for personnel costs. For 2014, the projected general fund revenues are forecast to be about $40.9 million while spending is expected to be about $42.1 million. Much of the difference will be made up by about $1.2 million in fund transfers from other city funds. Each year, the city’s general fund depends heavily on revenues from the sales and use taxes that make up about 56.4 percent of all city revenues. Sales tax revenue is generated as customers are required to pay 3.5 percent
that were voting in the recall election were like, ‘I don’t think the people representing us were focusing on us,’” DelGrosso said. Ferrandino rejects that assertion. He said that gun background checks are working and that the voices among Colorado’s rural community are being heard. The House speaker pointed to legislation passed last year that provided grants to help rural communities diversify their economies and a separate bill that created a health and social services center inside Bent County’s Fort Lyon Correctional Facility. Ferrandino also reminded his Republican colleagues that debate was never cut off last year, on any issue. “I’ve made a concerted effort to make sure everybody has a voice,” the House speaker said. “Just because you don’t get your way doesn’t mean your voice isn’t being heard. While it’s a good talking point for the other side, the facts don’t support that assertion.” Ferrandino said that the first priority of the House will be to work on flood and wildfire legislation, which should come with strong bipartisan support. Senate President Morgan Carroll, D-Au-
sales tax on taxable items. Sales tax is not charged on groceries but is charged by restaurants and fast food outlets. “Sales and use taxes fluctuate with the economy,” Gryglewicz said. “Since it is hard to predict the up and down trends in the economy, the same holds true for collection of sales taxes.” When there is a dip in the economy, there is a dip in sales tax collection. For example the total sales and use taxes generated about $22.6 million in revenues 2008. The recession hit in 2009 and sales and use tax collections declined. However, as an indication the economy is improving, the 2012 sales and use tax collections were near the 2008 level as the city collected about $22.4 million. Englewood’s finance department issues sales tax licenses to businesses within the city limits as well as businesses outside the city. Issuing Englewood sales tax licenses to businesses beyond the city limits is done because those businesses outside the city that that sell and deliver merchandise to Englewood residents are required to charge Englewood city sales tax on the item. If the resident picks up the item at the store outside the city, the business is not required to charge Englewood sales tax. Each year, new businesses start up and there are businesses that close their doors for good. Through November 2013, Englewood records show 175 businesses closed, which included 97 outside city limits. During the same period, 367 licenses were issued to firms opening their doors, which included 229 outside city limits. The finance department also reviewed the sales-tax records of 62 businesses and reported 39 of the businesses showed improvement in collections while 23 showed a decline in sales tax collections.
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and if he gets sick what is he going to do,” Michelle says. “I pray every day that he doesn’t get sick.” “It’s the unknown,” Neil says, “and how is he going to handle it.” Through scarce emails, they knew Donovan had traveled in December to a well-known ashram in Puttaparthi to meditate and study awhile. “He’s right here,” Neil says, pointing to the town north of Bangalore. “I feel he’s in a safer place. The only negative is I don’t hear from him every three days.” Despite the worry, their son’s adventure leaves them in awe. “I envy what he’s doing,” says Neil, an avid hiker. “I wish I would have thought of something like this. . . . ” “I feel he has a calling and we’re behind him the whole way — we will support him always,” Michelle says. “I just wish he’d be home.”
rora, said the first bill out the Senate aims to curb escalating college tuition costs that are “crippling a generation of opportunity for kids.” Carroll also previewed legislation that seeks reduce the financial burden on parents for child care costs. Carroll said that she expects legislation on oil and gas industry regulations. She said there is “a good chance” that the Senate will pass legislation that died last year, which would raise fines on companies for toxic spills. Carroll is not naïve to the new reality in the Senate. Because of the recall election efforts, her party’s majority has been reduced to a single vote. She is hopeful that Senate Republicans will support many Democratic bills, but acknowledges that some battles will be difficult. “The 18-17 vote really matters,” she said.
On Jan. 3, Neil checked his email to find a priceless New Year’s gift — a message from Donovan, the first since Dec. 20. “The path has changed a bit,” Donovan wrote. “I feel the need to pay respects to Gandhi and the Dalai Lama.” He is headed to their ashrams. Although he mentioned possibly returning to Colorado in May and that he had experienced some “tenuous times,” he also noted he wanted to spend three months working with Mother Teresa’s Sisters of Charity in Calcutta. “Obviously, as things unfold, he wants to do more and more things,” Neil says, “but it’s kind of hard to see what he will do for sure.” So, Michelle and Neil wait. It’s all they can do. “He is,” Michelle says, “always in my prayers and in my mind.” Ann Macari Healey’s column about people, places and issues of everyday life appears every other week. She can be reached at ahealey@coloradocommunitymedia.com or 303-566-4110.
Carroll hopes the two sides can move beyond partisan politics this session. “The people really are sick of bickering,” she said. “They’re sick of partisan mudslinging. They’re tired of excuses. They frankly don’t want to hear it. They don’t want to know who is to blame for what; they just want us to get the job done.” Meanwhile, Cadman insists that his party isn’t over-estimating Coloradans’ “outcry” from last year, by trying to undo laws that are already on the books. “We’re not proposing legislation based on reactions,” he said. “We are proposing legislation based on fixing the things we think (Democrats) did wrong. So it’s not a popularity contest. This about doing what we feel is right and, frankly, correcting what we feel was wrong. Period.”
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