YOUR OPINION

Re: Referednums C&D

Brad Riggin's explanation of Referendums C&D is not completely accurate

Under Referendums C&D, the voters will forfeit a tax rebate ... one which no voter has even received in the last few years. Everyone who qualifies for tax credits will still get them. Everyone who qualifies for a tax refund will still get one. If Referendums C&D pass, your taxes will be the same as they were last year!

Referendums C&D bring more money to the state budget because Colorado's economy is growing. More people are working. In most states, that means the state government gets a share in the growing prosperity, and can use these funds to improve quality of life.

Referendums C&D mean that the state can keep the tax dollars it collects, and invest them in services like public safety, road repairs, higher education, and firefighters' pensions (all of which are at risk without C&D). These improvements will draw new business to the state, and more business means an economy that can continue to improve.

What's on the chopping block without Referendums C&D? The state budget office just released a list, which includes:

Increase resident undergraduate tuition by an average estimated $3,952 for a four-year degree.

Some rural community colleges or state colleges could close.

Eliminate Colorado Council on the Arts funding.

Cap the prison population, resulting in the release of many prisoners.

You can go online to MetroConnect and look at your tuition bill. There is a line there for the College Opportunity Fund. That's the share of your tuition that Colorado is paying, for now.

Keep in mind that the amount you see there is just for one semester! If Referendums C&D don't pass, how will you make up the difference?

Sara Raab

Metro Sophomore

Apparently, as a Metro student I am in the minority for opposing Referendums C&D.

While I understand that many students believe it is in their interest that C&D pass because it promises lower tuition (or smaller increases), I suggest that in the long run it is a bad deal.

The next time the politicians squeal that they need more money for whatever the cause-of-the-moment is, they will be coming right back to us (when we are making the big bucks in a few years) to fund the necessary initiative that will prevent the state from collapsing. Besides, if they really wanted to lower education costs in this state, they have to look no further than right here at the Auraria campus.

There is no logical reason to have two different undergraduate institutions on this campus, but that is exactly what we have with the redundant and expensive overhead of each. It is simply much easier for the politicians to ask the taxpayers for more money than to deal with issues like this.

Greg Damian

Metro Student