A recent Transcript article stated that the City of Golden is purchasing an apartment building with six units for $1.35 million to “preserve naturally occurring affordable housing units…”. The source of the funds used to purchase the apartment building, with no apparent sense of embarrassment, was the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed by Congress in 2021to “Deliver immediate relief to American families…” according to the overview shown on the White House web site.In addition, the City is setting aside another $0.5 million for “future property improvements”, also sourced from the ARPA.
I find it remarkable that the City has had this slush fund in an account for years waiting for something to spend it on. The information on the White House web site says nothing about a municipality being able to purchase apartment buildings with this money. Can the city simply reappropriate money from the intended purpose to whatever they think is a good purpose, years later? As a taxpayer, my preference would be that this money be returned to the Federal Government. Does City Council not realize that the country now has a national debt exceeding $37 trillion or is this merely someone else’s problem? It appears that government never has enough money to satisfy all the “needs” that elected officials can imagine. Also, is there an analog anywhere of a similar municipality using public funds and successfully having any measurable impact on “affordable housing?” Without evidence that this really works, the City and taxpayers should be skeptical.
It is particularly galling that in September 2024, City Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting Ballot Measure 1A, de-Taboring Jefferson County. In 2024 the County over-collected property taxes by $30.5 million and is required to return this money to property owners. Ballot Measure 1A allows Jeffco to keep over-collected taxes going forward, effectively increasing property taxes over $30 million per year based on the 2024 refund. So a few months before City Council is “preserving affordable housing” they advocated for making housing more unaffordable. It appears that they are talking out of both sides of their mouth.
I have always wondered why elected officials view government spending differently than they view spending in their own household. Is it an adrenaline rush to spend other people’s money? My suggestion is that City Council contemplate the philosophy attributed to Henry David Thoreau, “That government is best that governs least.”
Jerry Goedert, Golden
Colorado Community Media serves more than two dozen communities across the Denver area. To write a letter to an editor in your community, or to read our letters policy, click here.