A "libertarian Rocky Mountain western-type of Republican" City

Colorado Springs, the second largest city in Colorado, with a population of 380,000 has taken a radical step towards privatization of many municipal services.

The progressive-controlled city council and government became increasingly out-of-touch with Colorado Springs constituents. The council proposed one property tax hike after another.

Republican State Rep. Douglas Bruce, author of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) described the situation. From the Canadian Globe & Mail, Feb. 7::

“In a super-conservative community,” he says, “they have amassed a socialist empire.”

The tax, which would have added $27.6-million to city coffers, was rejected by more than 65 per cent of voters.

“We called their bluff,” resident Douglas Bruce says. “They need to downsize. It's a good thing.”

Now the city has drastically cut back. Continuing:

Tired of indiscriminate spending, questionable officials and unnecessary expenditures, the residents of one Colorado city have decided to end the era of big government in their municipality, even if it means mowing the grass at the local park themselves... one-third of the city's 24,000 streetlights will remain dark. Two police helicopters are listed for sale on the government website. Trash cans have been removed from city streets, replaced with signs asking residents to dispose of their trash at home.

Park workers will only mow local green spaces sporadically, and flowers will go unwatered.

The city recreation centres, indoor and outdoor pools and several museums will close permanently on March 31 unless private donors step in. More than 63,000 hours of bus service have been slashed and law-enforcement jobs have been left unfilled.

Many are blaming it on the increasing libertarian attitude of local residents.

Joshua Dunn, a political science professor at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, says there is widespread distrust of government in the city, which has long been tax averse.

The city demographics are almost evenly divided between evangelical Christians, members of the armed forces stationed at the local Fort Carson, and “your more libertarian Rocky Mountain western-type of Republican,” he says.

The end result?

Many residents have said they will step forward to fill the void left by municipal services, opening recreation centres themselves, tending to the shared park land and disposing of their own garbage.

According to Rep. Bruce:

“The government should stick to its traditional municipal role, which is police and fire services, road repair and very little else."