I can’t understand why, we the taxpayers, are continually asked to clean the messes left behind by huge corporations. Time after time, we find ourselves forced to contribute to “superfunds” that clean up the environmental disasters left behind by irresponsible entities. For years, mining companies have pilfered the land, and then when the land no longer yields enough gold, they declare bankruptcy and leave cesspools of toxic chemicals, unsightly open pits, and huge piles of tailings that leach toxins into the environment causing multiple problems for the local inhabitants.Last November, we were asked to contribute to a “superfund”. We were asked to clean up the mess created by over development. We were asked to build schools in Stetson Hills and Claremont Ranch to accommodate the Tsunami of children flooding those communities as they near completion. These developments are nearing completion and need schools to help sell houses within those communities. But what about our community? When will we get more schools around here? Who will pay for additional schools once developers begin filling in the space between Highway 24 and Powers Boulevard? It seems like the proposed superfund would be exhausted quickly, and by the time the schools are built they would be overcrowded and we would be asked to fund even more schools. It just doesn’t make any sense.I think a better solution is what Rep. Michael Merrifield is proposing. Merrifield has drafted a bill that will allow local governments to require developers to pay school impact fees. I think a school impact fee will help alleviate many of the problems created by over development. I don’t think we should be encouraging developers to keep piling up houses on the eastern plains, and disregard the impact of those houses on our school districts as a result.Developers have historically gotten a free ride on several growth issues that confront communities as houses pile up in a development. Yet developers still whine that it is unfair to ask new homeowners to foot the bill for schools that “benefit everyone,” suggesting the developer will simply pass on the cost to the new homeowners. Rusty Green, the developer for Woodmen Hills, said that’s not going to happen because raising home prices to cover the cost for new schools would halt sales. But I’m not sure that making District 49 one of the highest-taxed school districts in the Pikes Peak region would help sell houses either.A final point to make here is that most of the schools the developers want us to build are in other developments outside of Falcon. It is also interesting to note the articles in the September/October 2004 issue of the Falcon Flyer. In an article written by the principal of Meridian Ranch elementary school, the author praises the developers for their “gift” to the community. However, he fails to mention that the developers haven’t finished the school yet. If you read the mill levy ballot issue, you will see that the mill levy was going to pay for “completing and equipping Evans, Meridian Ranch, and Springs Ranch Elementary schools”. Finally, if we had paid for the schools they would have been full by the time they were completed. Then what would we do.I’m proud to live in a community were the citizens vote to hold those that create problems accountable. Last year, over 5,000 building permits were issued in El Paso County. If we assessed an impact fee on all those issued permits, we wouldn’t need to ask for a tax increase/mill levy. Perhaps our developers can learn something from the leaders at Schriever AFB, near Ellicott. The leaders at Schriever are talking to District 22 Superintendent Terry Ebert. They are working with Terry as they prepare to build 330 houses at Shriever AFB. The Air Force is working with the local community to prepare them for the impact the new houses will have on their school district, approximately one child per household. The Air Force is going to pay for the impact these new students will have on the community (Clemons). What a great idea.When I moved here, the developer promised me a great “community”. When I bought my house, I expected great roads, electric, water and sewer. Those are all parts of a community. Schools are also part of the community. The developers put in streets, electricity, water and sewer because no one will buy a home without all those amenities. However they don’t want to pay for any “overhead,” just like gold mines don’t like paying for overhead costs associated with clean up. As developers mine all the gold from the eastern plains, I think it’s only fair that they clean up after themselves and finish the “communities” they start.Joe FishFalcon
