FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Caryn Ann Harlos, Secretary
Date: August 19, 2021
Email: board@lpdc.org
Phone: 561.523.2250
CASTLE ROCK TOWN COUNCIL USES INFLUENCE TO DRIVE BALLOT MEASURES THAT PUNISH THE LEAST AFFLUENT AND EXPAND GOVERNMENT
This month, the Castle Rock Town Council put final approval on four taxation-related ballot measures to put before the voters. While it may seem that this is simply leaving it to the Castle Rock residents, the Town Council previously dismissed out of hand a suggestion that a modest voting reform proposal be placed on the ballot through Council action showing their priorities to be extracting funds from the residents rather than reforms which might affect their future elections. These taxation-related measures, if passed, would make the dream of home ownership in Castle Rock out of reach for many first-time home buyers; remove TABOR refunds from the minority less affluent Castle Rock residents who need it the most; punish residents who make extra income through AIR BnB and travelers using those or more traditional accommodations; and use the coercive force of government to fund non-essential items such as parks. The decisions to place these issues on the ballot passed unanimously, save one, which had one dissenting vote only, despite the strong testimony given by multiple Libertarian residents. The one positive which came from the opposition testimony was a concession to break out earmarked funds in a segregated account rather than a mere line item.
Libertarian Party of Douglas County Chair Sean Vadney stated, “The power to unilaterally place items on the ballot should not be used solely on items which obviously create a financial incentive for the Town while forcing activist residents to go through the costly and time-consuming petition procedure. There needs to much more fairness and objectivity in that process.”
“The majority of this Town Council purports to be financially conservative and supporters of limited government. This vote showed this is not the case,” says Libertarian Party of Colorado Chair and immediately past Libertarian Party of Douglas County Chair Wayne Harlos who is also a resident of Castle Rock.
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