Taxation Without Representation

I support HOAs. I've seen the difference between communities that have them and those that don't. Those that do generally enjoy better marketability due to better maintenance. What I don't support is taxation without representation. Our HOA resides within a greater covenant community created by the Northgate Business Owners Association (NGBOA). Again, I support the concept. They charge an annual assessment to maintain the common areas along Voyager and Middle Creek Parkways in northern Colorado Springs. Costs are split 75-25 between businesses and residents. Since 2004, however, residential bills have doubled while the number of residents has more than quadrupled. How can this be? I don't know. Where does the money go? I don't know. What am I paying for? I don't know and I can't know because residents have no rights under the NGBOA charter. They have taken advantage of a loophole in Colorado law to impose taxation without representation. I wouldn't mind so much except I learned recently that not all residents are being charged assessments. Some are paying more for benefits presumably shared by all. How can this be? Taxation without representation. In March we sent a letter to NGBOA asking to be removed from the charter since our community is not directly adjacent to Voyager or Middle Creek Parkways and doesn't directly benefit from whatever they're doing. The NGBOA denied our request in August. This was after we wrote to our State representatives in July. To date they have not replied, nor did they answer in August when we sent a follow-up email. Our HOA wants to be released from this egregious and totally un-American situation. At the very least we want the loophole in Colorado law to be fixed so we can be represented. Since my State representatives are unresponsive, this is a plea to this organization to help us escape taxation without representation here in Colorado.

Rick White

2023 President

Deer Creek at Northgate

Colorado Springs, CO