Politicians like to talk tough on crime.  It is one thing to pass stiff sentencing laws and ‘three strikes you’re out’ legislation, but another to actually fund the prisons needed to house violent criminals.

As County Commissioner, I led the effort to build a much bigger jail.  The jail expansion was accomplished without raising taxes.  It was simply a question of setting spending priorities and putting your safety first.

The jail expansion was paid for with debt that was to be repaid over ten years.  TABOR requires that multi-year obligations of this nature should be put to a vote of the people.  Many governments have found ways to circumvent this constitutional mandate.  In Arapahoe County we put the debt question to a vote of the people in compliance with TABOR.  The measure passed overwhelmingly.  The jail has been built and is in operation.  The debt will be paid off within the next few years.