City bond proposal whittled down

Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 17, 2007 at midnight

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The biggest bond proposal in Denver's history isn't so big anymore.

Mayor John Hickenlooper's Infrastructure Priorities Task Force recommended a $631 million package of bonds to pay for deferred maintenance and for brick-and-mortar projects such as street repairs and a new crime lab and animal shelter.

But the most expensive - and most contentious - recommendation has been cut almost in half, said a source close to the negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The source said that the mayor is recommending $40 million to renovate Boettcher Concert Hall - $35 million less than proposed by the task force.

Hickenlooper wouldn't confirm or deny the information, saying that he didn't want to disrupt the process.

But "it's safe to assume it won't be $631 million," he said during a meeting Monday with the Rocky Mountain News editorial board.

Council members will discuss the mayor's recommendations in committee tomorrow.

The council has until the last meeting in August to place the proposal on the November ballot.

City Council President Michael Hancock called the latest proposal a "wonderful compromise."

"I think what you're going to see is some creativity with regard to the financial structure of the package itself that will help minimize the amount of tax increase that we have to levy upon the citizens," he said.

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099

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