Granby Adds Drop To Bucket, Pledges $20,000 For Tax Initiative

Granby's Contribution

Granby Trustees, not wanting to look too gleeful about all the extra revenue that will pour into Granby when the Fraser and Grand Lake elementary schools close next year, threw a token $20,000 at the school tax initiative.


“Of all the communities on the list, we are in the toughest spot,” said Trustee Greg Mordini.(SHDN)


Scuttlebutt around town is that Granby and its citizens are not all that upset about having the only schools in East Grand, and I don't blame them. This would be a huge boost to Granby, which is struggling since City Market opened on the outskirts of town, and major developers defaulted on their obligations.


In a recent post, I mentioned that Granby hadn't made a peep as to their thoughts on the school tax funding initiative:


"Three days ago, the town of Fraser--deficit spending for the past three years--pledged $50,000 dollars toward a fund to be used by East Grand School district, citing the town's long term viability as a concern should the school close. This is in addition to $75,000 Winter Park has decided to launder through the Grand Education Foundation, and the $20,000 Grand Lake found lying around. Of course, there's the county's own folly to consider, adding a possible $177,000 to the mix. There hasn't been a peep from Granby. I'm afraid the current leadership of our communities will come to regret these actions."


They must have taken me literally, because they went and did exactly what I would have expected politicians to do--the exact opposite of what's in their citizens' best interest. Of course, what do you expect from a group of trustees who, against all better judgement, gave the go-ahead to pay raises during the worst economic downturn of our generation?


During the debate on wether to fund the school tax initiative, the trustees gave up this little nugget:


"Mordini later suggested the town pay off its lease purchase for the firehouse and redirect the $15,000 per-year interest the town would save to the schools, in addition to the $20,000.

“Paying principle and interest to a bank doesn't stay in the county,” pointed out Granby Town Manager Wally Baird."(SHDN)


So if I'm getting this... The town has a lease with principle and interest totaling $15,000, and the only incentive to pay this off and stop the bleeding is the school question? 


I guess it's a good idea to have a balance on your credit card when you have the money to pay it off. That way, you can pay interest to the bank instead of keep the money in your pocket.


I hope you in Granby do decide to take Ms. Pierro up on her offer and run to replace the seats currently occupied by she and the trustees.