Issues

The financial health of Erie is vital to the well-being of every resident. Unfortunately, over the past two years, Erie has shifted from a budget surplus to mounting deficits and uncontrolled spending. In 2024, the town faces a $10 million deficit in the General Fund, driven largely by staff and salary increases, as well as the Town Hall expansion.

Although Erie has seen growth in sales tax revenue in recent years, much of that increase stems from the Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., which overturned the “physical presence” requirement. This ruling allowed municipalities to collect sales taxes from online purchases, significantly boosting the Town’s revenue.

However, sales tax revenue is inherently volatile and should not be the sole metric for budget forecasting. The key issue is ensuring the Town doesn’t outspend its revenue growth—a problem we’ve faced since 2022.

As a member of the next Town Council, my top priority will be restoring fiscal balance. This doesn’t necessarily mean drastic spending cuts but requires disciplined financial management, ensuring spending increases stay below revenue growth. With this approach, we can bring the budget back into balance and secure Erie’s financial future.

As our town has grown, traffic safety challenges have also increased. I have been a strong advocate for traffic improvements across Erie and have been the most vocal member of the Council in pushing to relocate the landfill entrance off County Road 5. With the development of new communities like Westerly and Sunset, County Road 5 can no longer function as the primary entrance to the landfill. This is the same road used by many teen drivers traveling to Erie High School and parents dropping off children at Soaring Heights. It’s also a major route for residents commuting to work, shopping at King Soopers, or visiting the golf course. I’m pleased to see the formation of the Landfill Task Force to address this issue, but it will be the next Council that finalizes any agreements regarding the relocation of the entrance.

Additionally, I advocated for the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of Flora View Drive and County Road 5. Initially, the plan was to install a rapid flashing beacon (RFB), and St. Vrain only committed to funding crossing guards. However, thanks to the efforts of Colliers Hill residents and support from some of my colleagues on the former Board of Trustees, we successfully secured funding from both the town and the developer for a traffic light.

As Erie continues to grow, it is crucial that we preserve its unique identity and character. While much of the property within our growth boundary already has development entitlements, it’s important that residents have a voice in how our town evolves.

One of the most pressing needs is completing the update to our Town’s comprehensive plan. I was disappointed that we were unable to finish this during the first two years of my term. It was even more disheartening when the Council majority chose to focus on removing members of the Planning Commission and stripping the commission of its comprehensive plan authority, which is mandated by state law. Additionally, the Town’s decision to terminate the contract with our consultant for updating the plan further stalled progress. In all of this, the voices of our residents—your input on what you want for Erie—have been sidelined. We saw this again when hundreds of residents attended the public hearing for the rezoning application at 111th and Arapahoe, making it clear that community engagement is vital.

There are still a few key commercial areas critical to Erie’s future, with the Erie Gateway property along I-25 being one of the most important. I was one of only two Board of Trustees members to meet with Weld County Commissioners at the start of 2022 to initiate a tax revenue-sharing agreement. This agreement is intended to bring water and sewer services to our I-25 corridor properties, facilitating future development.

Supporting local businesses has always been one of my top priorities. We must strike a careful balance when determining the fees businesses pay to the town. Regularly comparing our fee schedules with neighboring communities is essential to ensure we don’t unintentionally push businesses away.

During my time at IBM, one of the key metrics for success was the ability to execute efficiently. Over time, I’ve grown increasingly concerned about delays in areas like liquor licensing, permitting, and other regulatory matters. The most important function we can offer as a government is improved response times. Our business owners deserve prompt service, and it should be a top priority for the Town to ensure a high Quality of Service.

This is one of the primary issues that I hear from many residents, and one of the primary draws for Erie.  I was proud to support some of the major park revisions that happened during my term.  The first was the expansion of Erie Community Park, our award-winning improvements at Coal Creek Park, and Clayton Park which is in my neighborhood in Erie Highlands.

Sadly, many in some of our newer communities, including Morgan Hill residents in District 2 have had their community parks delayed due to shifting priorities in the Town budget and rolling over past projects into subsequent years.  We need to prioritize promises to our neighbors as many residents purchased homes in these communities because of their proximity to local parks.

Residents overwhelmingly supported the extension of the Trails, Natural Areas and Community Character (TNACC) mill levy, which allows the Town to purchase future areas for open space, and funding for new trails.  I will work to ensure the protection of these funds and ensure that we can maintain our open space and add to the Town’s portfolio.