Colorado Spending Transparency

Greeley Tribune publisher Bart Smith criticized taxpayers who demand more transparency in the face of 3A, a massive property tax increase for Greeley Evans School District 6.  In an opinion editorial urging a yes vote, Smith reveals his own naive understanding of transparency in Colorado. 

Others who say they want more transparency show their lack of knowledge of how a public institution operates. School financing is an open book. Anyone who chooses can dive into the records and see how every cent is spent.

Our own Amy Oliver sent a Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) request to District 6 two weeks ago.  She still has not received all the information.  (Although we hear the District promises to have it to her by the end of business today) So much for seeing how every cent is spent.

Perhaps Smith failed to notice that the Colorado Press Association supported SB09-57 the School District Financial Transparency Act, which would have required Colorado school districts to provide detailed financial information online in a searchable format. 

He also probably failed to notice that both the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post supported the legislation.

The curious position of the Greeley Tribune does lead us to wonder why a newspaper would not support calls for more transparency.  It’s obvious the Northern Colorado newspaper does not subscribe to our motto:  No taxation without information!  Odd.