Chairman's Opinion
Stick to the promise


Historic Georgetown, Inc. was an active organization doing its important preservation work long before "'limited stakes gaming" was ever discussed. Central City and Black Hawk were over the hill, a little economically depressed perhaps, but getting by. "Gaming" was sold to the voters of Colorado and to the citizens of Central City,Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek, with the understanding that the income from this new source of state revenue would be used to enable these "gaming" communities to preserve their historic buildings and their historic character, while providing jobs and economic benefits to the "gaming" communities and to the state as a whole.

"That was the deal proposed to the citizens - allow 'gaming' and funds will be used for preservation."

In order to make the proposal attractive to voters all over the state, the proposed amendment to the Colorado constitution provided that some of the "gaming" funds would be available for historic preservation state-wide. That was the deal proposed to the citizens - allow "gaming"and funds will be used for preservation. The citizens accepted the proposal at the polls.

I was not sold, however, and I voted against the proposed constitutional amendment. I felt at the time that "gaming" was a silly way of saying "gambling,"and that a more regressive tax system would be hard to design even if one tried. At that time, I had no idea what the consequences of the passage of the amendment would be for Black Hawk and Central City. Today, who does not continue to be shocked as he or she drives through the "Las Vegas in the Foothills" that Black Hawk has become and passes the empty store fronts of Central City?

 

Now, Mike Coffman, the State Treasurer, and others are proposing to
change the bargain. He proposes to take away half the funds otherwise available for historic preservation and use those funds for tourist promotion. Gambling is here with us now, and there seems to be no way to undo its damage. The Central City and Black Hawk that existed twenty years ago cannot now be recovered. We seem to be stuck with the ills that gambling has produced; nonetheless, we can not idly sit by and allow a group of politicians and their friends in the tourist business to change the rules of the game at this late date. The state made a bargain with its citizens. It is up to us to make sure that we require the state to keep its end of the bargain.

There is no doubt that the state government is facing hard economic
choices. I know that one of the big problems facing Colorado is the fact that so much of its budget is determined by constitutional mandates, which eliminate much of the legislature's flexibility to adjust the state budget when revenues go down. Some might be tempted to argue that the State Historical Fund is no different in its effect on the budget from the Tabor Amendment or the other restraints that have been written into the Colorado constitution over the years and that limit the legislature's ability to appropriate state funds in the most efficient and beneficial manner.

The big difference in my mind, is the fact that "gaming" came to Colorado in exchange for the promise that the funds produced from "gaming" would be available for historic preservation. We are stuck with "gaming," and Black Hawk and Central City are what they are. I feel that it would be very unfair at this point to change the bargain.

MATTHEW SKEEN

There is, of course, nothing at all wrong with a flourishing tourist industry.

Georgetown and Clear Creek County depend upon tourism for their economic health. Some might argue, however, that it is never appropriate for the government to use tax revenues, collected from all its citizens, to promote any particular private business or industry. For years, that argument has been made and lost. Our state and local governments have long been involved in promoting local businesses, in attempting to create jobs, and in encouraging growth for the sake of growth. Even if I must reluctantly surrender this point, I would still argue that the funds generated from gambling which were promised to support historic reservation should not be taken away for the purpose of promoting for-profit, purely private businesses.

If you have gotten this far in my message, you are aware that the current Board Chairman of HGI has some strongly held opinions. You may or may not share all my beliefs. Obviously, I do not speak for the entire organization on this or any other issue. However, most of us would probably agree that money spent on preserving our heritage is money well spent. I hope that you will do what you can over the next months to hold the state to its bargain with its citizens. Let¹s seek to preserve the full funding for the Colorado State Historical Fund.

Matthew Skeen
Chairman, Board of Directors, HGI

 

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