Dear Editor: Last July I sent the four questions listed below to the Ouray Board of County Commission candidates Padgett, Niece and Perkovich and also to Commissioner Nauer. Padgett, Niece and Nauer refused to answer.

Perkovich answered yes to all four questions. Without answers from Padgett and Niece, we can conclude they will not commit to any of the issues in the questions.

I’ve sent these questions to the Ouray Woman’s Club for their upcoming candidates’ forum in Ouray on Oct. 17. Hopefully Padgett and Niece will answer the questions to inform the citizens of Ouray County on where they stand on these important issues.

1. TABOR (Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights): If elected, will you commit to never ever supporting any tax increase that has any language to bypass TABOR, even if you support the tax increase goals?

2. Density: If elected, will you commit to never supporting any increase in density in unincorporated Ouray County?

3. Child care: If elected, will you commit to never using any of my tax dollars to fund child care?

4. Marijuana: If elected, will you commit to never changing the current Ouray County Marijuana Ordinance to allow any marijuana grow facilities in the North Mesa Zone and aggressively enforcing the ordinance county-wide?

Governor Polis asked all county governments to lower property taxes for 2024 and Padgett, Niece and Nauer all refused. The massive property tax increases we faced in 2024 were the direct result of the voters eliminating the Gallagher Amendment and the BOCC bypassing TABOR.

The current and past BOCC uses purposely obscure language in their tax increase ballot measures to bypass TABOR without ever mentioning TABOR. Over the years I have repeatedly asked the BOCC to not to bypass TABOR or explain that bypassing TABOR means no tax refunds for overcollection. The current and prior commissioners all refused. So much for an “open and honest county government.”

The busy Ouray County voters likely had no idea they were voting to give up their TABOR rights to refunds if more is collected than asked for in tax increase ballot measures. Would most voters know the following ballot language is giving up their TABOR rights?

AND SHALL THE LEVY AND EARNINGS THEREON BE COLLECTED, RETAINED, AND EXPENDED AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE WITHOUT LIMITATION OR CONDITION UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION AND COLORADO STATUTES 29-1-301 ET SEQ OR ANY OTHER LAW.

George Kerber

Log Hill Mesa