AURORA | A lawsuit filed Tuesday by two Aurora residents accuses the city of violating the state’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights by raising taxes to pay for the controversial Gaylord hotel project without going to voters first.
The lawsuit, filed in Adams County District Court by David Bishop and Regina Thomson, accuses the city of crafting a special taxing district and allowing just one person — a real estate developer from Denver — to vote on a special tax there to benefit Gaylord. In total, the local and state taxes promised to Gaylord could top $800 million over the next 30 years, according to the lawsuit.
Under TABOR, lawmakers typically have to get voter approval for any tax hike. Such contrivances to work with state incentive and tax laws are not unusual, city officials say.
Tuesday’s lawsuit comes on the heels of another lawsuit filed against the Gaylord project by some Denver hotel owners. That lawsuit says the state must reconsider $81 million in tourism incentives pledged to the project because it has changed substantially since the incentives were awarded in 2012. The city of Aurora has responded to that lawsuit with one of their own against the Denver hoteliers, accusing them of using the legal system to thwart the project.
Aurora City Attorney Charlie Richardson referred questions about the lawsuit to Aurora Economic Development Council President and CEO Wendy Mitchell.
Mitchell said she had not yet had time to read the lawsuit Tuesday evening.
But, Mitchell said, the lawsuit is part of an ongoing effort by opponents of the project to derail it.
Officials have said construction could start on the sprawling 1,500-room hotel and conference center near Denver International Airport as early as this fall.
Very interesting, the City Attorney referrs all question on a law suite against the City of Aurora to a non-lawyer, the CEO of the AEDC. Is Wendy Mitchell a reliable source for a legal opinion? Has Mr. Richardson’s retirement induced him to total inertia?
But most interesting is two Aurora Citizens questioning Aurora’s public policy of giving all future tax revenue to a corporation for 33 years. Questioning the omniscient judgement of the Mayors and City Councils caviler use of a TIF for an urban renewal area that was creativley carved out of agricultural land.
How dare they question a descision made by Aurora’s most inqusitive and creative group. Have they no faith in the Mayor and the Aurora City Council, a group that have created an incentive pacakage unmatched by any entity in Colorado.
Nevertheless, these two concerned citizens should be commended for recognizing that to be heard in Aurora you must go outside of the system.
This council seems absolutely convinced they don’t need us or our opinions whatsoever. On anything at all.
There are more than two citizens concerned around here and I do commend these two for taking legal action.
Keep in mind that for 35 plus years, council doesn’t make a move unless Charlie Richarson tells them it’s a good one. Now, he dips out on them and refers questions to a CEO? HA!
What other skeletons await us once he is out of here?
Ashley, the word is first week of April at AMC. I will advise you the time or confirm week, so sit back and enjoy gotti lie thru the teeth. Do you know why licky pen richardson is leaving?
Health or Oates weakest link….now?
Maybe his tongue dried up?
In the Denver Post article, council member Sally Mounier of Ward I was quoted saying, “There has been a lengthy public process and ample opportunity to voice concern”.
Sally, do you have any idea what you just told us? Let me break it down for the taxpayers.
Sally translation: Well, we told you we were thinking about breaking the law and nobody raised their hand and said we shouldn’t. So, now that we are forging ahead to break the law, you should let us since you didn’t speak up sooner.
Why are we wasting more taxpayer dollars on this??? Let Gaylord come if they want. There is no need to shell out that much money to them.