‘Trust, But Verify’ Infrastructure and Mental Health Tax

Originally published by BizWest, October 2, 2025. 

In the waning days of the Cold War, it was President Ronald Reagan who adopted the proverb, “Trust, but verify.” Ironically of Russian origin, the saying was meant to convey faith in the intentions of two sides to an agreement, while adopting the necessary oversight to confirm compliance with stated intentions. In the context of two ballot initiatives that are coming before voters this election season, the Boulder Chamber urges you to vote “Yes, but verify.”

Many of you have probably heard the refrain: City of Boulder and Boulder County budgets are “constrained” or otherwise facing some other form of “structural deficit.” A mix of economic and policy factors are playing havoc with anticipated revenue and forcing city and county officials to confront the reality that our financial coffers are shrinking or they’re growing at rates that fall below inflationary costs. Announced hiring freezes and layoffs are just the tip of the iceberg in anticipated service cuts.

In times like these, the instinct might be to point fingers. I have my own list of villains to chastise for the economic and fiscal conditions we’re confronting. I believe it begins at the very top. Yes, decisions and indecision emanating out of Washington are playing havoc with the once dependable infusion of investment in scientific advancements and federally funded programs. It’s also leading to instability that is the bane of business investment.

But we also have to look ourselves in the mirror and consider what policies and initiatives are hampering business success and weighing down our economy. We’ve prodded, perhaps even harangued, civic leadership regarding conditions in our downtown, the straitjacket of our development codes, and the general neglect of investment in our economy. While I credit Boulder City Council and staff for important recent shifts, conditions we’ve left to fester for far too long are coming home to roost.

It’s amidst the throws of this temperament that the business community, along with voters, are asked to support two sales and use tax initiatives on the November ballot: Renewal of the City of Boulder’s Community, Culture, Resilience & Safety tax and passage of Boulder County’s Issue 1B — Mental and Behavioral Health Sales and Use Tax. It would be a simple statement of frustration to color in the “No” bubble out of frustration. The Boulder Chamber — while sharing those frustrations — asks you to take a deep breath and consider the consequences of that decision.

In our recent survey of the business community, a top priority is addressing homelessness. We simply will not have success in that mission without confronting the underlying mental and behavioral health — think drug addiction — conditions that plague so many of the unhoused individuals we find encamped in our parks and at the doorsteps of local businesses. The Mental and Behavioral Health Sales and Use Tax begins to respond to the call for action by Boulder County in the recent homelessness strategy update: “Support the county in securing sustainable funds for high-needs behavioral healthcare services.” I note with further appreciation that the County Commissioners supported the Boulder Chamber’s call for a focus on services targeted to our homeless population.

We take a similar perspective with respect to renewal of the CCRS tax. Here, the caution against irrationally self-destructive actions applies, “Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face.” Our community is in a deep hole with respect to maintenance of our basic infrastructure. We can argue how we’ve arrived in this place until we are blue in the face, but the deficits are real and well-vetted, and sound civic infrastructure is critical to maintaining Boulder’s competitive economic advantage. There also is a crying need for a thoughtful infusion of investment in our cultural and community non-profits that are important contributors to our local economy.

All that said, and returning to the “verify” caveat in our endorsement of these two ballot initiatives — we’ve been down this road before. The city and county previously asked voters to approve a tax in support of critical community causes, and we find lapses in their committed use of the funds. Most egregious was the lack of adequate consultation with local affordable housing stakeholders in the deployment of Boulder County housing tax resources. We also are sensitive to the disappointment many in the arts community hold for decisions regarding disposition of the 2023 sales and use tax extension funds toward internal administrative functions.

That is why, in both cases, Boulder Chamber support is conditioned on commitments to open and transparent public engagement in decisions regarding the allocation of these precious tax resources. We expect robust engagement, including public hearings and progress reports. We will verify that commitment — both before votes are cast on these two taxes and in the program implementation phases — and we won’t be shy in sharing the degree of confidence we ascertain.

Indeed, our resources are “constrained” and we face “structural deficits” that are forcing difficult budget decisions on our local governments. There also are needs that demand our attention, lest we dig ourselves a further hole and threaten our economic interests. That is why the Boulder Chamber encourages you to support renewal of the City of Boulder CCRS tax and passage of Boulder County 1B.

This is a vote of confidence, not a blank check.

In the spirit of “win(ning) one for the Gipper,” our community needs to invest in 21st-century infrastructure, shore up our basic maintenance needs and support our cultural and nonprofit sectors. Similarly, we cannot ignore the urgent need for expanded mental health services. These measures are steps in the right direction.

But let’s vote “Yes, and verify” — investing in our shared future, while making it clear that city and county leaders must earn and maintain our trust through transparent and accountable stewardship of our valuable resources.