WOODLAND PARK, Colo. – A group of local residents has filed recall petitions against three members of the Woodland Park City Council following their vote to take a step toward repealing a 1.09% city sales tax that currently directs more than $3 million to the Woodland Park School District (WPSD). The petitions were submitted for Councilmembers Carrol Harvey, Steve Smith, and Jeffrey Greer, who were part of a decision that has sparked significant controversy within the community.
The move to repeal the tax was based on concerns over transparency, according to the councilmembers, but many residents, including those with children in the school district, have expressed frustration with the potential loss of crucial funding for WPSD.
Warren Dickenson, a parent of a WPSD student and a key figure behind the recall effort, shared his excitement about the filing of the petitions. “We are excited to have turned in the first three petitions and looking forward to their validation,” Dickenson said in a statement. “We will be turning in the petitions for Katherine Nakai soon as well. The support to recall this council has been amazing, and we are looking forward to voting in a council that listens to, and represents the majority of Woodland Park residents.”
Dickenson’s group, which has garnered significant support from local residents, plans to submit petitions for two additional councilmembers in the near future. The recall effort is a direct challenge to the councilmembers who voted in favor of repealing the sales tax, which has been a critical revenue source for the local school district.
The City Clerk’s office will begin the process of verifying the signatures on the recall petitions, with the final verification expected to be completed by May 6. If the petitions are validated, the next step will involve scheduling a recall election, where voters will have the chance to decide whether to remove the councilmembers from office.
The controversy surrounding the sales tax repeal has sparked a broader debate about the priorities of Woodland Park’s leadership and the role of transparency in city governance. Proponents of the repeal argue that the tax revenue should be scrutinized for its effective use, while opponents, including many parents and teachers, warn that removing the funding would undermine the already strained budget of the local school district.
