The more I learn about how restricted and limited Centennial is by being a statutory city, the more frustrated I get. It is definitely time for Centennial to become a Home Rule City.

The biggest problem with being a statutory city is that the City can't audit its sales tax collection. That means that when I pay my sales tax in Centennial, I don't know if it's really coming back to my city. I don't like sales tax to begin with, but if I have to pay it I at least want to know that it is going where it is supposed to. Centennial should be able to make sure that it is collecting the sales taxes I pay at Centennial businesses so that it can use that money to plow the snow in the winter and control the mosquitoes in the summer.

If we vote for Centennial to become a Home Rule city in the election on June 10, we are voting to protect our own interests and to protect our wallets. Compared to other cities in the metro area, we pay pretty low sales taxes. To keep those taxes low, we need to make sure that every cent of the money we are already paying at the store is ending up where it is supposed to be.

Adding insult to injury, when I pay sales tax in any of the Home Rule cities that surround us those cities are darn sure that they are collecting the right sales tax from those stores. But they can only do that because they are Home Rule. Why should Centennial delay having those same rights?

To me, it's a matter of fairness and responsibility. I'll be voting Yes on Home Rule for Centennial.

Sincerely,

William C Stokey

Centennial, Colorado