October 31, 2011 08:14 PM UTC

Shocker: Jeffco Commissioners Oppose Prop 103

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• by: Colorado Pols

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners is as predictable as it is timely:

Commissioner Odom moved that the following Resolution be adopted:

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

OF THE COUNTY OF JEFFERSON

STATE OF COLORADO

RESOLUTION NO.  CC11-401

RE: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSITION 103

WHEREAS, Proposition 103 would raise the state income tax level from 4.63 percent to 5 percent and the state sales and use tax from 2.9 to 3 percent for five years, and

WHEREAS, Proposition 103 requires the state legislature to spend the increased revenue, estimated at approximately $2.9 billion over five years, on education, and

WHEREAS, Jefferson County is dedicated to promoting economic development and economic opportunity for its residents and businesses, and

WHEREAS, Jefferson County attends to the needs of individuals in need, and

WHEREAS, the tax increase comes at a time when even modest hikes could damage many businesses and individuals whose financial situation is precarious,

WHEREAS, the Campaign Reform Act, Section 1-45-117(1)(b)(III)(A) C.R.S., allows the Board to pass a resolution and to take a position of advocacy on any issue.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners of Jefferson County opposes Proposition 103 and urges the electors to vote against it to protect businesses and individuals during these difficult economic times.

Commissioner Rosier seconded the adoption of the foregoing Resolution. The roll having been called, the vote was as follows:

Commissioner John Odom Aye

Commissioner Donald Rosier Aye

Commissioner Faye Griffin, Chairman Aye

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote of the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado.

Does this really come as a surprise to anyone?  Of course Commissioners Odom, Rosier, and Griffin would oppose Prop 103. The thing is, though, when you do the thing that everybody expects you to do, it isn’t really newsworthy. In that way, Commissioner Odom’s resolution may have the inverse impact of its intent: nobody in the county thought that Odom and company would support 103, but by explicitly coming out against the ballot measure, the Board may make more enemies than they placate friends.

In passing this resolution, the Board has directly come out against increased funding for education. That’s gonna make all three a target for education activists in Jeffco, and that’s going to make for some uncomfortable canvassing at teachers’ doorsteps when all three run for re-election. Or, for that matter, parents’ doorsteps.

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners isn’t tasked with deciding education policy. In fact, when you step into education policy at all, you run the risk of alienating at least one segment of your constituency. That begs the question, then: why meddle in something so contentious when it neither concerns you nor has that much intrinsic political benefit?