Would town of Falcon have enough money?

The financial future of the proposed town of Falcon is hazy.

Members of the Falcon Incorporation Committee haven't drawn up a town budget, saying that's a job for officials who would be elected several months from now.

They say the town would be funded by a 1.6 percent sales tax on nonfood items, generating $752,000 per year, according to their Web site, www.falconco.org.

But that amount might not be enough to pay for essential town services such as police and road maintenance -- let alone town staff, court services and more -- if budgets from other similar- size Colorado cities are any indication.

Court documents show Falcon would have an estimated population of 2,700.

When Monument had a population of 2,481 in 2001, it spent $864,030 on police and roads alone, according to records from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

New Castle, west of Glenwood Springs on Interstate 70, spent $765,264 on police and roads in 2003, state records show. Other towns spent less -- Palmer Lake spent $374,750 on police and roads in 2003, records show.

Falcon's lack of a budget, or even a rough estimate of one, concerns voter Kathy Hare, who lives on what would be the west side of town.

"You can't be financially responsible without having a budget, without knowing pretty close to what it's going to cost to run a town," said Hare, who is board chairwoman for the Upper Black Squirrel Groundwater District and writes for the New Falcon Herald weekly newspaper.

In Black Forest, residents proposing incorporation drew up detailed budgets for the town, posting spreadsheets and Power Point presentations to their Web site. Voters rejected that proposal April 24.

Mark Schermer of the Falcon Incorporation Committee said the estimated $752,000 in revenue could be low. Those figures were determined using 2004 sales numbers, he said.

With Wal-Mart opening soon, yearly revenues could reach $2 million, Schermer said. He said initial research by the committee showed the town would have two to three times the revenue it needs to operate.

Committee members say they want minimal town government that operates efficiently and preserves the rural atmosphere present in most of the proposed town's 12 square miles.

"What we want to do is try to keep things the way they are now before they get too far out of hand," Schermer said.

Committee Chairman Tom Cline declined to speak to The Gazette for this story.

Residents will vote on incorporation May 29 at the Falcon fire station at U.S. Highway 24 and Meridian Road.

For more information from the group opposing incorporation, visit www.nofalconco.org.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0274 or jennifer.wilson@gazette.com

HOW MUCH DOES IT TAKE?

The Falcon Incorporation Web site, www.falconco.org, says the proposed 1.6 percent sales tax would generate about $752,000 per year.

Without a budget it's hard to know how that money might be spent, but comparisons with similar-size cities in Colorado show it might not go far.

Some cities spend that much money on police and roads alone.

The Gazette looked at how much similar-size cities spent on police and roads in 2003. Overall budget costs weren't compared because not every city provides the same services For example, some have fire departments and water systems. Numbers from 2003 were used because they were the latest available for many cities.

District court records show the town of Falcon would have an initial population of 2,700.

www.dola.colorado.gov

Frisco

Population: 2,631

Police: $808,210

Streets: $785,741

Total: $1,593,951

Las Animas

Population: 2,765

Police: $324,580

Streets: $159,430

Total: $484,010

Leadville

Population: 2,794

Police: $532,715

Streets: $404,589

Total: $937,304

New Castle

Population: 2,825

Police: $387,219

Streets: $378,045

Total: $765,264

Palmer Lake

Population: 2,303

Police: $260,900

Streets: $113,850

Total: $374,750

Palisade

Population: 2,737

Police: $515,852

Streets: $157,653

Total: $673,505

Platteville

Population: 2,560

Police: $357,006

Streets: $98,686

Total: $455,692

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