The Falcon Exploratory Incorporation Committee has disbanded and a newly formed group, the Falcon Incorporation Committee, has emerged.The FIC includes members from the former committee, as well as new members. Their goal is “simply to get people educated enough to get an educated vote,” said representative and treasurer Thomas Cline.The group registered as an issue committee with the El Paso County Election Department. The county ensures all accountability for all contributions by tracking the funds raised by the committee, Cline said. Since registering, the group is recognized as a political entity.The FIC is making plans to educate local residents and businesses about the incorporation process. The committee is holding an open meeting on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at Falcon Middle School.”If we want to control what the future is, we better get with it,” Cline said of Falcon growth. Cline said he worries that the development happening in Falcon may not be in the best interest of the residents and businesses located here. He said people might begin to see the need for incorporation by “stopping, looking, and seeing what’s around us.”They are building 500 houses that are so close together you could hear your neighbor’s bacon frying. If we want to preserve our rural way of life we need to act to incorporate, and set it up as we want it to be, not as the acting body 20 miles away wants it to be.”To encourage people to vote for incorporation, the new committee has come up with guidelines that differ from the former committee’s recommendations, including a lower proposed sales tax and tighter boundaries.The original committee suggested a 2 percent sales tax increase to cover budget costs. The new committee has proposed an increase of 1.6 percent. “It might take more, but I feel a little silly about asking for $100 if $50 could do the job,” Cline said.The narrowed boundaries hope to give the group the ability to canvas a smaller area as they disseminate information to residents about the incorporation issue. The boundaries could expand, if an area is interested in being included in the incorporation, Cline said.The FIC hopes to raise money to develop information to spread the word about incorporation.”If we have enough people who want to control their destiny, then we can get it done,” Cline said. “If we have enough people who say “I don’t care,” then we’re not going to get it done.”The FIC plans to hold public meetings closer to the April 2006 vote, Cline said.The Falcon Incorporation Committee will hold an open meeting.
