Sentinel Lakewood
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 90, Issue 12
LAKEWOOD STUDENTS ‘WALKING ON AIR’
October 31, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlakewoodnews.com
Cities eye uses for pot sales tax revenue Proposition AA pot revenue debated in cities By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com
Katy Perry performs for Lakewood High School students in a cheerleader uniform. More than 2,700 students and staff were in attendance at the show. ABC courtesy photo
Rock ’n’ RoaR Katy Perry performs to honor triumphant Tigers
By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com
M
ore than 2,700 Lakewood High School students and staff celebrated pop star Katy Perry’s birthday on Friday, Oct. 25. Perry came to the school with the “Good Morning America” TV show to reward the students with a concert for winning a lip dub contest against four other finalists and numerous other entries from across the country. The school’s video featured Perry’s latest single, “Roar,” from her new album “Prism.” Despite the early morning — students gathered in the gym around 4 a.m. — there were few signs of weariness, only excitement. Perry was escorted into the gym by school football players to the screams and cheers of students. She and her women dancers hit the stage wearing cheerleader outfits emblazoned “Tigers.” Her male dancers and musicians wore Lakewood Tiger football jerseys. “That you did that video in one shot was just so cool,” Perry told the cheering crowd. “The unification of everyone coming together and roaring for me was great.” After a spirited performance of “Roar,” Perry sang “Walking on Air” from her new album, and followed with three hits, “Firework,” “California Girls” and “Teenage Dream.” “We’ve been here since 4 a.m., and the show was awesome,” said student Perry continues on Page 18
Lakewood High School students cheer on Katy Perry as she takes the stage on Oct. 25. The school won a concert from the pop star after she picked their lip dub video out of hundreds of entries. ABC courtesy photo
Could drug money fund a safe house for abused children in Northglenn, or pay for much-needed road projects in Wheat Ridge? If Proposition AA passes next week, a chunk of the state revenue that will be generated by marijuana sales next year will go to the cities that allow retail pot businesses to operate. That has some city officials dreaming up ways that the money could be spent in their municipalities. But whether that revenue results in a windfall or merely a drop in the bucket remains to be seen. Prop AA will ask voters to support a 25 percent tax on retail pot sales that were made legal across the state, as a result of last year’s passage of Amendment 64. The taxes — which will only affect those who actually purchase the drug — will be a 15 percent excise tax and a 10 percent retail tax on each transaction. The first $40 million collected through the Prop AA excise tax will go toward public school construction, while much of the retail taxes will fund regulation of the new industry. Cities that allow retail pot sales will see some revenue, as well. That’s because the ballot measure ensures that 15 percent of the retail pot taxes that are collected by the state will be funneled to those municipalities. The revenue will be based on each city’s percentage of pot sales. The prospect of “found money” coming into those cities has led to some discussion on how the potential revenue could end up being spent. During a study session earlier this month, members of the Northglenn City Council — which voted in September to allow retail pot sales, becoming the first city in Adams County to do so — discussed ways that it could end up spending the money. Council members talked about using the revenue to fund road projects, as well as possibly stashing the money away for now, without earmarking the dollars. The council decided to table the discussion until the city has a better grip on how much money they’ll actually end up getting. Northglenn Mayor Joyce Downing said one option would be to use the funds to renovate a building that would serve as a new facility for Ralston House, which provides services for abused children and families. Downing said this could be a way for the community to come together on pot sales, a contentious subject. “I’m really trying to be very positive because it’s such an issue for a lot of folks,” Downing said. “It would be great to, in a positive manner, say to the community Pot continues on Page 13
Katy Perry and her dancers performing “Roar,” the new single off her album “Prism” at Lakewood High school on Oct. 25. ABC courtesy photo
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