The Centennial Truth Detector

The Centennial Truth Detector

SEPTEMBER 2000

Many residents in unincorporated Arapahoe County have received fliers from a small group called Arapahoe Citizens Against Higher Taxes (ACAHT). In the flier, the group makes a number of claims. City of Centennial leaders say that the claims keep changing, but they would like to set the record straight, and respond to the ones that they bring up consistently. Here is their response to the claims.

Claim: If Centennial is incorporated Arapahoe County loses $7,316,070 more than if Greenwood were to annex. If we keep Unincorporated Arapahoe the way it is, we lose nothing.

TRUTH: It's not true. The very report cited by ACAHT comes up with exactly the opposite conclusion. ACAHT only reports on the income side of the equation, leaving out the all-important expenses. In reality, the impact on Arapahoe County with Centennial includes a savings of $27,000,000 in expenses (Steve Oliver, CPA, Senior Accountant, Arapahoe County, 8/1/00).

Claim: Arapahoe County has not lost revenue due to past annexations.

TRUTH: Again, all the facts are important. ACAHT is only counting the multi-jurisdictional County general fund mill levy. Past Greenwood Village annexations have cost both the Arapahoe Law Enforcement Authority and South Suburban Park & Recreation District big dollars. Why do you think leaders of both support Centennial?

Claim: A 1.5% sales tax is unrealistic to operate the City of Centennial.

TRUTH: Wrong again. The vast commercial tax base plus the existence of numerous special districts make 1.5% an absolutely viable rate. It would be unwise, to say the least, to tack on a 3% Centennial sales tax when we are still paying very high property taxes to support special district functions like fire protection and water.

Claim: Centennial supporters are a secret group interested in getting scheduled passenger service at Centennial Airport.

TRUTH: Centennial leadership has issued a unanimous statement opposing scheduled commercial passenger service. Furthermore, Centennial Airport itself is neither a part of the Centennial incorporation nor of any Greenwood Village proposed annexation. The Airport is under the control of Arapahoe County through its Airport Authority Board, which has fought for years to keep scheduled service out even when it cost the Airport millions of dollars.

Claim: Centennial would be a new layer of government.

TRUTH: It's a substitute, not a new layer. All of the services that a city would provide currently exist either with Arapahoe County or a web of special districts. All rely on property taxes to provide services. Cities are annexing unincorporated commercial tax base all over metro Denver, and the war is raging for the huge tax base between Yosemite and Parker. Once it's gone, it's gone for good. Centennial brings the delivery of services together so that (a) we have the financial resources to get things done and (b) we have direct accountability, as citizens, from our locally elected city council and mayor.

Claim: There are no guarantees.

TRUTH: Actually, we can be guaranteed a few things. If Centennial were to lose, we will see renewed pressure on higher property taxes; we will be locked into a minority position in our remaining local government - Arapahoe County; and, wherever we go to shop, we'll see more and more of our sales tax dollars going to support the lifestyles of neighboring cities with none of those dollars spent in our neighborhoods. And: We can guarantee that government of the people, by the people and for the people works better than taxation without representation.

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