Utilities
POSITION ON 2006 COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES BUDGET (11/10/2005)
It’s time to get our utility out of the economic development business.
Utility tap-fee discounts…
- Insignificant to new employers
- Hamper success of existing employers
- Burden working families
For more details, see the Effect Of Current Utilities Extension Policies On Cost-Sharing
and other Supplimental Information
1. SaveTheSprings is strongly urging removal of utility infrastructure subsidies for new businesses and households from the 2006 Utilities budget.
These subsidies are funded through the utility bills of current residents and existing employers. Elimination of these subsidies can be accomplished by implementing full cost recovery system development fees for all 4 major utilities services.
2. We also ask that all public funding of the private Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation be eliminated from citizen-owned utilities, hospital and city budgets.
Eliminate…
- $240,000 EDC financial support in Utilities Budget 2006
- $45,000 EDC financial support in City Budget 2006
- $10,500 EDC financial support in Memorial Hospital Budget 2006
Why Eliminate This Funding?
- Life-supporting utilities should not be taxed to fund economic development.
- A citizen-owned utility should be totally focused on serving the needs of the citizens at a reasonable cost, not on accelerating the need for more water, electricity and wastewater treatment at ever-increasing costs to the citizens. For more details, see the Effect Of Current Utilities Extension Policies On Cost-Sharing
- Leading economic development theory recognizes tax and utility discount incentives are ineffective, counter-productive and not sustainable.
- The EDC is a special-interest group that has hijacked our city’s economic development, promoting a self-serving agenda over the interests of the citizens and community.
- Public economic development funding should be directed to a publicly accountable agency that serves the interests of the entire community.
For more details, see
the Backgrounder
Document and Effect
Of Current Utilities Extension Policies On Cost-Sharing
Comments
at Utilities Board meeting 11/16/05 -- Dick Anson,
Executive Director, SaveTheSprings
Comments
at Utilities Board meeting 11/16/05 -- Dave Gardner,
ExChair, SaveTheSprings
Comments
at Utilities Rate Hearing 11/16/05 -- Dave Gardner,
ExChair, SaveTheSprings
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