Greetings,
After more than a year of research on the future outlook for public health and safety services in El Paso County, as well as in our local municipalities, Citizens for Effective Government has reviewed the state mandated (required) public health and safety services and the backlog of infrastructure needs. Recognizing a public health and safety crisis, we are launching the “Safer Community Initiative.”
Without action on a regional level, our quality of life will be jeopardized by disturbing trends like a continued rise in crime but declining levels of public health and safety services. We have fewer police officers and deputies patrolling our streets, while the population increases. The County must provide State mandated (required by law) services, yet tax revenue is declining and costs to provide services are skyrocketing.
Our public opinion poll, conducted in the spring, gives us confidence that voters will agree with this assessment and our common sense solution that seeks opportunities for cooperation and consolidation.
What you are supporting:
• A request to the El Paso County Commissioners to put before the voters a 1% sales tax (one penny on a $1 purchase) as a fair and equitable solution to solving this problem
• A coalition of local citizens who are organizing in support of a safer community
Our coalition is available to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision, and we hope you will invite us to make a presentation to your membership no later than September 1, 2008. Contact Sara Muirheid at smuirheid@msn.com or 575.4333 to schedule a presentation.
Thank you for your concern. Mike Kazmierski Stephannie Finley
To view a .pdf of this letter, click here.
To support the resolution, please print the full document here and mail to the address listed on the resolution.
