Q & A session with Penelope Culbreth-Graft (Colorado Spring's new upcoming city manager)

A very Politically correct approach? In Culbreth-Graft’s Q & A session with the Colorado Springs Business Journal (vole 19, number 39) one could sense that her answers, to hard community issues, where deliberately…………politically correct. One of her greatest challenges will be trying to grow Colorado’s infrastructure in tandem with following the rules and regulations that TABOR http://http//72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:5cm7ZKJ1CoUJ:www.springsgov.com/doccenter/PublicCommunication/TABOR%2520ABCs.pdf+colorado+springs+tabor.&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=12&gl=us presents.

When asked about how she plans to address these issues, Culbreth-Graft responded “These questions will take time to answer and address effectively.” Additionally, when asked about what some of our city’s greatest weaknesses are she responded “As with all growing communities, meeting public service demands within a limited budget tops the list.” I think it’s far to say that what she meant to say was how difficult it is going to be to grow this city to where it needs to be all while staying within (voter approved) TABOR guidelines. I can say that I don’t envy her position nor do I think that her job will be an easy task. Culbreth-Graft’s first act should be trying to really understand why Tabor was passed by voters to begin with. It’s no secret that the citizens of Colorado Springs have felt that their tax dollars were not being spent effectively in the past. TABOR gave them an answer by forcing the city to operate within very limited parameters along with designated funds for particular projects. Of course this outcome has had its many shortcomings. Our roads have been slowly deteriorating, some of Colorado Spring’s cultural and educational programs have been cut and our crime rate has risen. Additionally, our primary job growth has decreased along with management and other professional positions. The persistent problem with getting funds to help alleviate some of these issues is that voters in Colorado Springs ABSOLUTELY HATE to pay extra taxes. We are currently one of the bottom three Colorado cities in total amount of tax dollars paid by its citizens. Add the sheer fact of why TABOR exists and Culbreth-Graft will quickly realize that this community does want to grow, however, not at the expense of city accountability. I personally think it would be interesting to see the city open up its books to the public. How much city do positions pay? How much money is spent on particular projects? How much is spent on entertainment? Taxes and funding will come if the city can truly prove to its citizens on how much money is going where. I wish Mrs. Culbreth-Graft the upmost success and I think we as a community should welcome her with open arms. Changes need to be made and hopefully she will bring us several steps closer.