Colorado Spending Transparency

The Greeley Tribune, in its Sunday house editorial, acknowledges the role that transparency played in the recent defeat of 3A, a massive property tax increase for Greeley Evans School District 6.

A lack of transparency in its financial records was one of the reasons some cited for voting against the recent mill levy override. It became evident during that election that there is a significant mistrust between the district and some of its residents over how the district is spending its money, and if it is making the best use of the funds it now has available.

The editorial also recognizes that taxpayers have a right to know how their money is spent.

We believe there is merit to the idea of government doing all it can to disclose as much information as possible about its operations and finances. As taxpayers, we have a right to know how governmental entities are spending our money and the decisions that affect the services we receive.

The newspaper’s previous anti-transparency position has puzzled COST.  We’ve never encountered a news organization that didn’t want more information from government. COST welcomes the Tribune’s enlightened opinion. 

But what COST really appreciates is the editorial’s first line: “Transparency has become the political battle cry of the year.” We, along with many others, have worked hard to make it so.