Colorado Spending Transparency

State Senator Linda Newell, democrat representing Arapahoe and Jefferson counties, sent COST an email asking us to correct our post on the senators who voted against the Public School Financial Transparency Act (SB09-57).  Senator Newell wrote in an email, “that your posting of Senator Newell’s vote on SB 57 is inaccurate.  She voted yes on the bill.”

All of us at COST strive to be accurate and factual so we double check the official record, the Senate Journal.  On page 394 readers can find the 3rd and final senate vote on the legislation.  According to the official record, Senator Newell voted no.  COST told Senator Newell that we would post her request but that the official record does not reflect that she voted “yes” on school district financial transparency.

We are encouraged that she is following COST and concerned about her record on tranparency.  Perhaps Senator Newell will sign our Transparency Pledge.

“Transparency is a safeguard of public funds and helps to build public trust,” says Mark Shook, Falcon school board member.  Shook was quoted in a recent Colorado Springs Gazette article.  In addition to Falcon District 49, “Rangely R4 and Durango 9R are putting their check registers online so everyone can see where the money is going.”

Shook also said that “putting a check register on public display makes it is hard to hide any transgressions or overspending by administration or other district personnel. And it could save money.” COST agrees.

COST thanks those school districts that believe taxpayers have a right to know where their money is going — and they can save money too.

Several weeks ago, during testimony for the Public School Financial Transparency Act Glenn Gustafson, CFO of School District 11 in Colorado Springs, implied that people don’t care about how school districts spend money so therefore he (and other districts) shouldn’t be bothered with providing a searchable, online Web site for all school district expenditures and revenues. 

Gustafson is at it again and this time he takes it one step farther. According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, he is concerned that taxpayers won’t understand the financial information.

Even more important than posting the numbers on a Web site is educating the community on the costs of running a district and interpreting the data, he said. He fears people won’t understand what the notations mean, or will nitpick the tiniest of items without understanding the big picture.

He added, “We’ll probably end up doing it, but the big question is: Is anyone going to look at it and understand it?”

COST is touched by Mr. Gustafson’s concern for residents’ inability to grasp the financial data.  Afterall, taxpayers are simply the source of the districts’ revenues and shouldn’t be ask questions about how their money is spent.  

Also, Gustafson’s question about whether anyone will look at the Web site is irrelevant.  That is not up to him to decide.  That decision is left to taxpayers, but this isn’t the first time Gustafson has shown so little disregard for those who pay the bills.

State Rep. BJ Nikkel’s bi-partisan bill on state spending transparency (HB 1288) will be heard in the House Finance Committee on Wednesday, March 4, which meets upon adjournment (about 9:30 am).  Transparency supporters will gather in the cafeteria in the basement of the Capitol at 8:45 am. 

If you would like to let the House Finance Committee members know how you feel about transparency, contact information is provided below.

Chairman:

Rep. Joel Judd 303-866-2925

repjoeljudd@joeljudd.com

Vice Chairman:

Rep. Jerry Frangas (sponsor) 303-866-2954

kjerry.frangas.house@state.co.us

Members:

Rep. Dennis Apuan (sponsor) 303-866-3069

dennis.apuan.house@state.co.us

Rep. Debbie Benefield 303-866-2950

debbie.benefield.house@state.co.us

Rep. Cheri Gerou 303-866-2582

cheri.gerou.house@state.co.us

Rep. John Kefalas 303-866-4569

john.kefalas.house@state.co.us

Rep. Andy Kerr 303-866-4569

andy.kerr.house@state.co.us

Rep. Kent Lambert (sponsor) 303-866-2937

rep.kent.lambert@comcast.net

Rep. Ellen Roberts 303-866-2914

ellen.roberts.house@state.co.us

Rep. Ken Summers (sponsor) 303-866-2927

ken.summers.house@state.co.us

Rep. Spencer Swalm (sponsor) 303-866-5510

spencer.swalm.house@state.co.us

Update from the State Capitol: The school construction transparency legislation (SB09-236) was defeated 6-1 in the Senate Education Committee a short while ago. A half-dozen people (including dedicated transparency warrior Jeff Sacco) showed up to testify for the legislation.

Opposition testimony included lobbyists from the Colorado Association of School Executives and Colorado Association of School Boards. Concerns also were raised by some members of the committee about potential negative impact on public charter schools.

It’s unfortunate to see the failure of one grassroots effort to promote open government in Colorado, but others live on.

Our good friend and transparency warrior Jeff Sacco just sent us a message.  The Transparency and New School Construction bill (SB09-236) will be heard in the Senate Education Committee, SCR 354, Wednesday morning (tomorrow) upon adjournment, which is probably around 9:15 a.m.

According Jeff (and COST agrees), Senator Kevin Lundberg’s bi-partisan legislation ”takes the small, but important first step toward transparency, guaranteeing that people have the right to know and be heard, before a project commences.” Surprisingly there are opponents to even this simple proposition. They “believe district boards should retain the power to spend and build without any public comment, review or scrutiny – they argue that if people don’t like the decisions, they can vote board members out next time.” Sound familiar?  It should!  Evie Hudak used the same unconvincing argument on school spending transparency.

For those who want to offer support either by testifying or uniting with other transparency advocates, you may contact Jeff Sacco at saccojb@hotmail.com or 303-297-2545; 303-913-9392. Transparency advocates will meet in Capitol basement cafeteria between 8:30 and 9 a.m.

If you would like to contact the Senate Education Committee to let them know how you feel about transparency and new school construction, contact information is listed below:

As promised, below is a list of state senators that said no to Senate 57 the Public School Financial Transparency Act and thus said “no” to letting taxpayers see how their money is spent.  All this legislation does is require those school districts and public school institutions that have Web sites to provide expenditures and revenues online in a searchable format for everyone to see. 

Senators saying “No” to taxpayers and “No” to transparency:

Senator Bob Bacon

Senator Betty Boyd

Senator Joyce Foster

Senator Evie Hudak

Senator Moe Keller

Senator Linda Newell

Senator Brandon Shaffer

Senator Suzanne Williams

If you would like to send a message to state Senators about your opinions on transparency, click here for contact information. 

School transparency now moves on to the House.  COST will continue to update you with all relevant information on school transparency as it makes it way through the House Education Committee.

Who could possibly oppose telling taxpayers how their money is spent? Turns out bureaucrats have a special antipathy for transparency. 

COST learned about a meeting last week where the face of transparency obstruction in Colorado was unveiled.  According to sources, State Controller David McDermott is no fan of transparency.  He called it “dangerous” for the state and ”confusing” for taxpayers.  The Office of the State Controller is charged with managing the “financial affairs of the State of Colorado”.

While acknowledging that he cannot stop the transparency trend in Colorado, McDermott indicated he does not want transparency in state statute.  He spoke of the difficulty of implementing transparency because of governmental accounting practices and possible liability to the state.  When challenged with the fact that 38 “good people,” including Democrat and Republican legislators, want this legislation, McDermott smiled and questioned, “I wonder how many would support it if they saw the cost.”  Some attendees took that as a threat to kill the bill with a massive fiscal note, which is what happened to the transparency legislation in 2007.

Colorado’s Controller is in stark contrast to Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, who openly embraces transparency in her state.  The Texas transparency Web site Where the Money Goes is the product of honest bi-partisan legislation that included support from Combs.

The Texas Comptroller’s Web site even highlights Open Book Texas where visitors can see how her office is “working across the state to shed a light on how taxpayer dollars are spent to ensure every way to save is found.”

Besides their differing views on transparency, there is another huge difference between David McDermott and Susan Combs: Combs is elected and McDermott is appointed.  Combs’ elected position is similar to Colorado’s Treasurer Cary Kennedy.  As COST has posted before, Kennedy embraced transparency on the campaign trail but has yet to show Coloradans where their money goes.

COST is sympathetic to the challenges that McDermott and his office face, since it is charged with doing the state’s considerable business.  However, McDermott and his employees work for the taxpayers of Colorado, not the state of Colorado. It’s hard to believe that the federal government and a whole slew of states can put their expenditures and revenues online for taxpayers to see but Colorado cannot.

Americans put a man on the moon using slide rules and computers with less power than today’s average calculator.  It seems reasonable to expect Colorado to put expenditures and revenues online using existing technology.

Remember: If you can’t defend it, don’t spend it.

 A dedicated transparency warrior Jeff Sacco asked that COST post the following letter from him.  Jeff is helping State Senator Kevin Lundberg with his legislation that would require transparency in new school construction.  Should you want to get involved, please contact Jeff or Senator Lundberg.  Also, feel free to contact your legislators and let them know how you feel about transparency for new school construction.

From Jeff Sacco:

Senator Lundberg is sponsoring a new bill, Transparency and New School Construction (SB number forthcoming). Over the past several weeks, I personally have contacted you concerning the importance of this bill and seeking sponsorship of this bill. Senator Lundberg would appreciate your co-sponsorship and he or I, on his behalf, will be contacting you over the next few days for your support. I am attaching a copy of the bill draft to this e-mail and will offer a few highlights below.

Problem: You may not be aware that the State statutes grant boards of education absolute power to acquire land and build facilities at their sole discretion, with no required public notice, input or coordination. The need for a more public, more coordinated process was identified in 2005 by the Legislative Council Staff, yet no action has been taken.

Proposal: The bill simply requires a public hearing before construction commences on a new school, and that plans relating to the construction be made available for public inspection at that time.

Benefits:

• Maintains local authority

• Generates public support and a community partnership

• Begins to address the lack of coordination and public process identified by the 2005 Colorado Legislative Council Staff Memorandum, made to the Interim Committee on School Finance and supported by BEST (Building Educational Success Together).

• No additional costs to implement (WOW!)

• Transparency: who wouldn’t want the public to have this information? It’s only common sense; school facilities are a community asset, the community has a right to know and be heard.

The decision to co-sponsor should be as easy as scarfing a sleeve of Girl Scout Thin Mints! If you are unable to catch Senator Lundberg before his late bill deadline this Friday, just give me a call anytime Wednesday through Friday and I will pick-up your signature at your convenience on his behalf.

IF YOU CAN’T DEFEND IT, DON’T BUILD IT!

Kindest regards,

Jeffrey B. Sacco

saccojb@hotmail.com

SB09-57 received a mere 8 no votes according to Todd Engdahl from Education News. All the no votes came from Democrats including anti-transparency Senators Bob Bacon of Fort Collins, chair of the Senate Education Committee and fellow board member Evie Hudak of Westminster.  Interesting that both Bacon and Hudak are former educators and don’t want those who pay the bills (a.k.a. taxpayers) to know how educators spend tax dollars.  Something to hide?