I'm so tired of listening to Ms. Habig whine over spilt milk. The start up city made some mistakes in its first two years. That time is over and systems are up and running and the city has become financially strong and fiscally responsible.

The founders never promised "We will continue to have Arapahoe County provide our services.." The founders promised to contract out as much as was feasible, to Arapahoe County or any vendor that could do the right job for the right price. Being fiscally responsible, the city officials knew that making a 10-year open-ended contract with the county for public works was not a wise move. There were no costs put on the table.

The city early found out that a 1.5% sales tax was too low, and the citizens overwhelmingly passed the increase to a 2.5% sales tax. Ms. Habig campaigned loud and long to go to 3%, but she doesn't mention that in her information. Totally irrelevant to the issue is that the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority does NOT, I repeat, NOT have a 3 or a 5% fee. The fee is strictly based on the amount of impermeable surface on one's property. The fee is not a percent of anything. And, yes, the fee did have a 5% increase this year, the cost of a Starbuck's treat per month. The Authority is working hard to keep the fees as low as possible but Arapahoe County never sufficiently funded stormwater issues and now the Authority has to makeup for that lack of attention.

The founders never promised a virtual city with "20 employees..." The founders promised to contract out as many services as possible and keep the actual number of employees as low as possible. The city does NOT, I repeat, NOT have 80 employees. The city currently has 43 paid staff (employees), 52 staff are authorized but not all hired. The rest of the number to get to Habig's number of 80 are, indeed, contracted. Just what was promised.

So, Ms. Habig, quit your whining and start actually discussing the Home Rule Charter. This is a charter that gives the people more control over their government, more transparency, stricter voting standards for City Council where money is concerned, and the increase in sales tax collections from finding those retailers inside the city but not reporting sales tax to the city a boon to our citizens. This would bring in more money needed for the Capital Plan that the Charter would require be a part of the budget every year. Want to know where your money is going? The charter would mandate more information in the budget each year. Oh, and by the way, the city's mill levy is still less than 5 mills.The county gets 16 mills!

For deeper information go to www.homerule2008.com and read the myth busters and tell Ms.Habig to start looking forward instead of backward.

Andrea Suhaka

Centennial Home Rule Charter Commissioner

Former Ward III Councilmember