Stopping Wasteful Spending: Your Tax Dollars, Well Spent

We’re tired of seeing our tax dollars wasted on mismanaged projects. It’s time for responsible leadership and fiscal accountability in Commerce City.

Examples of Waste And What We Should Do Instead

Buffalo Run Restaurant Renovation… $8 Million Gone?

The city is planning to pour $8 million into remodeling the Buffalo Run clubhouse and Bison Grill, adding dining space, a rooftop patio, banquet rooms, and more. But is this remodel truly needed? The Bison Grill is already underutilized; sometimes it’s cheaper and smarter to rebuild fresh rather than patching a structure that doesn’t meet the community’s needs.

Let’s redirect that kind of money toward parks, trails, or public spaces that serve everyone year‑round. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Flawed Network Upgrade… $500,000 for Cat6?

The city nearly spent half a million upgrading building network wiring from Cat‑5e to Cat‑6. But Cat‑5e already supports gigabit speeds, speeds that most employees couldn’t fully use, making this a low return on a big spend.

Industry standards show Cat‑6 upgrades cost on the order of thousands of dollars, not hundreds of thousands, making this a classic example of overkill. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

$3M Council Chamber Remodel… A Vanity Project?

There’s talk of spending $3 million to reconfigure the council chambers so city staff face the audience. While aesthetics matter, this isn’t a vital upgrade, especially when road repairs and improvement, sidewalks, and code enforcement need more funding.

A Better Way Forward

• Prioritize real community needs: Invest first in infrastructure, safety, and essential services, not cosmetic renovations.
• Require cost-benefit reviews: No large project should move forward without a clear, detailed analysis and community input.
• Transparency is key: Publish easy-to-understand budget breakdowns for big projects so taxpayers can follow where money goes.
• Be strategic: When we build, let’s focus on value, longevity, and benefit, not just the flashiest proposal.
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Let’s Demand Smarter Spending

Commerce City deserves leaders who respect tax dollars and invest in projects with purpose. I’m committed to halting wasteful spending and delivering results that serve all of us.

Vote for leadership that cares, about you and your hard-earned money.