Letters to Our Community – Lodging tax issue rebuttal
In the November issue of OCN, a Letter to Our Community was printed from “Warren James” containing only uninformed, untrue statements. Here are the facts:
- Paragraph 1 presented figures from Sept. 3. These were projected numbers presented in advance of anything catastrophic (contrary to the implications in James’ letter) and used for discussion.
- Paragraph 2 suggests that the police budget was to be raided to compensate for shortfalls. The Police Fund is composed of two components, General Fund plus 2F dollars that can only be spent for what the ballot initiative outlined. Neither of these sources was or is in jeopardy and there was never any conversation to that effect. Ask the police chief.
- Paragraph 3 says that Council (previous Trustees) only recently has the right to make monetary changes only when that does not violate previously approved ballot initiatives (2A Water Fund and 2F Police Fund are restricted). No, the Council can not defund the police nor do they wish to do so.
- This year’s ballot initiative (2A) was a lodging tax earmarked exclusively for previously unfunded parks with the tax paid only when lodging occurred. The current Council budgeted substantial dollars for the improvements made to Limbach. Spend a few minutes watching the children (of all abilities) play on the new equipment. This was the lodging tax destination.
- There was no shell game and never any intent to deceive; however, “Warren James” is spewing untruths and, unfortunately, it must have worked because the measure was defeated—too bad for Monument children.
In the future, suggest if they/them want the facts, they/them consider attending meetings and/or listening to the recordings and/or asking questions of staff and/or Council directly rather than lurking in the shadows with a poison pen to punish the innocent.
Laura Kronick
Monument councilmember
Other Letters to Our Community
- Letters to Our Community – The reign of Botox Barbie (2/4/2026)
- Letters to Our Community – Thank you, Monument Hill Foundation (12/4/2025)
- Letters to Our Community – Eighty is the new sixty (12/4/2025)
- Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
- Letters to Our Community – Vote for Ginger Schaaf (10/30/2025)
- Letters to Our Community – Manipulative vs. persuasive speech (10/30/2025)
- Letters to Our Community – Support Jackie Burhans (10/30/2025)
- Letters to Our Community – Endorsement for Ginger Schaaf—D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
- Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf endorsement (10/30/2025)
- Letters to Our Community – Support Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
- Letters to Our Community – Schaaf for family values (10/30/2025)