Hancock refutes Romer attack ad

Claim 1:
The Post said it betrayed the trust of Denver voters.

Response 1:

The City Council has a legal responsibility to ensure that city employees' wages are competitive with city employees of other comparable cities. Hickenlooper's pay-for-performance bonus program was not adequately addressing this responsibility. The funds were simply redirected back into a merit-pay program to ensure wages were comparable and did not have any impact on the bottom line of the budget.

Claim 2:
“Michael Hancock breaking the budget to give millions in bonuses to city workers as our deficit grew.”

Response 2:

The City Council did not “break” the budget. Council members simply addressed a pay structure issue within the budget. This vote to transfer funds from a bonus pay program to a merit pay plan did not increase the bottom line of the 2008 budget.

Claim 3:

“Now, Denver faces a $100 million shortfall. Dozens of cops and firefighters could be laid off, and libraries closed.”

Response 3:

There is an expected $100 million shortfall in the 2012 budget. The Mayor’s Office, a special financial task force and the City Council are working to eliminate the recession caused-deficit. This Task Force and their work was created at the request of Michael Hancock two years ago.

Claim 4:
“Yet Hancock votes himself a $5,000 raise.”

Response 4:

This is false. City Council voted for a pay freeze until 2013 for the next term of elected officials to allow for the economy to recover – only then will all elected officials' pay begin to incrementally increase (Council Bill 11-0152).

Elected officials are prevented by law from voting themselves a pay raise (Section 9.2.2, Denver City Charter). A sitting Council is obligated by law to set the salaries for the next Council and other elected officials. Pay for elected leaders will have remained flat for six years when the recently approved adjustment takes effect in 2013 e (Council Bill 11-0152).

Importantly, Michael will not take the raise as Mayor of Denver. Denver Post

Michael will not receive this raise as a city councilman. Denver Post

Claim 5:
“…and pledges another pay hike for city workers.”

Response 5:

In response to a forum question, Michael said he could foresee a cost of living increase for city workers in 2012 (Denver Post/9News Forum). The law requires the City Council to keep wages competitive for all city employees and elected officials.

City employees have sacrificed much over the past few years, and Michael foresees a cost of living increase as the economy stabilizes and recovers.