Conifer Park and Rec district.

Here they come again.

http://www.focpr.org/

From their website "So a group of residents has formed to address this issue by exploring what it would take to establish a parks & recreation district in our area with NO mill & NO new taxes. "

But in the FAQs "At a future date, to be determined by the elected board and community input, there could be a bond election to fund the building of a community center."

:bash

...at such future time, you would again have a chance to vote for or against the proposed tax - what's wrong with that?

I keep wondering how many times it has to be voted down before they "crack the code" that Conifer citizens don't want it?...or at least, aren't going to pay for it?

How many times has it been already?....3? - 4?

I've thought about this question for some time now. Although the Conifer area could use a building large enough to hold say... a 285 Corridor Tea Party Group Meeting, I wonder about the long term benefits to a community in Jefferson County, considering the fact that you are already greatly over-taxed.

Remember, Once taxed, taxes never go away! :VeryScared:

Oh - did you think this topic was going away?

No way skippy....

This is going to be one of the most popular topics in the whole 285Bound.com site - if I make it so myself. One of those other "community" web sites wiped out an entire discussion about this subject - and I think it was politically motivated.

As this election for this special district approaches - it's important to discuss this subject, as everyone within the district boundries will face taxation in perpetuity if this district is formed. At least twice now - the taxpayers have rejected the proposal for a new tax district in Conifer.

There is only ONE reason to create a special tax district - and that is to tax. Once formed, this district will never go away, and the mill levy can start out at zero- but it won't stay that way any longer than it takes to get one passed. Once they pass a mill levy - they will come back again and again until they get that mill levy raised - and once they get it raised - they will come back again and again until it gets raised some more.

This is EXACTLY what happened in Evergreen. The mill levy started out small, with only one facility, a swimming pool. It has grown into a full blown bureaucracy - with multi-million dollar facilities and paved walking trails for the folks who live in Hiwan Country Club.

The Evergreen Park & rec district mill levy has been raised again and again over the years and now stands at 6.98. For me, this means about $380.00/year - and the only use I get out of that 380 is a walking trail around the lake. Fees were raised everywhere throughout the district- in an effort to raise more money, including a new private boat fee for Evergreen lake this last summer. Evergreen lake has always been a place where someone with a kayak or canoe could paddle around for free, until this year.

Just to give you an example of how big the 6.98 mill is - we pay 3.20 mill for jefferson county sheriff services in this county - and that at 3.2 mills - they are not short on our money at all.

Our Rec district uses more than twice as many tax dollars as we pay for law enforcement. This is exactly what will happen in Conifer too - as soon as they get their district started. Look forward to you taxes going up - and look forward to them raising fees for every service they provide.

The best way to keep this from happening to Conifer - is to prevent this Rec. District from getting started in the first place. And so far - that is exactly what the taxpayers in Conifer have said - that they do not want this Conifer Recreation District.

LadyJazzer wrote: I keep wondering how many times it has to be voted down before they "crack the code" that Conifer citizens don't want it?...or at least, aren't going to pay for it?

How many times has it been already?....3? - 4?

4

I don't live in Jeffco & I hope this measure fails again. If it passes, then the fine folks in Park County will want a rec center.

i don't live in jeffco either but everything bearmtnhib says is accurate as my aunt lives in jeffco and pays a lot for stuff she doesn't use and it keeps going up.

i think it won't be long before this side of park county will try for a rec center. i hope they vote no - taxes are high enough w/o adding to it.

I received a mailer from the Conifer Community Park at Beaver Ranch indicating that they are not a part of the effort to create a recreation district. On the same flier their mission is stated as "To provide a public resource of open lands, waters, and facilities for recreation, culture, civic and educational benefit of the Conifer Community, Jefferson County and all visitors." It seems that people have privately organized to obtain the amenities they desire not only for themselves, but for the community as well. A 450 acre facility is quite an accomplishment. Kudos. Too bad this is not enough for those seeking to create a rec district. So the rec district plan is to have competing facilities? Why establish the specter of a taxing organization when there is already a well established operational 450 facility now?

I got that flyer as well.

I'm betting that since there isn't a giant rec center in Aspen Park, these people will keep trying in hopes of getting one. Do stuff outdoors? Oh no, why do that? Bah.