Each year, campaign consultants fret over “ballot clutter” and worry that voters faced with too many questions will just say no – to everything.
Voters this fall will be asked to fortify state finances by allowing the state to keep $3.1 billion in revenue that otherwise would be refunded. It’s an imaginative fiscal solution and the most important question voters will face this year.
But Referendum C isn’t the only significant proposal being put before the voters. City and county governments across the state trying to shake off economic doldrums and TABOR constraints will ask voters to increase their contributions, either through higher taxes or a partial rollback of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
We hope voters will OK Referendum C and give serious consideration to local issues.
The city of Lakewood is seeking a 1 percent sales tax hike to avoid a fifth year of budget cuts that would result in substantial layoffs. In Denver, the school system is seeking a $25 million override to pay teachers more, and city officials might ask voters to allow the city to keep roughly $7 million in taxes collected in excess of state limits.
In Aurora, residents will decide a property tax hike to pay for more police officers and two new fire stations.
And in Castle Rock, town officials are mulling a 1 percent sales tax hike to extend RTD service to the entire town, along with other smaller increases.
It’s essential that public officials make the strongest possible case for raising revenues. Otherwise voters will be well advised to think twice. If there is ballot clutter, all the more reason for voters to carefully weigh the individual ballot items.
Ballot clutter is unlikely to derail Referendum C. In fact, the high-profile Referendum C campaign will benefit from the support of prominent political and business figures who would only seek a revenue increase as a last resort. By October, voters should have a very good idea what the referred measure will do, and why it’s so desperately needed.
“The public is very open to the concept that from time to time we have to make some investments,” said Katy Atkinson, a Republican consultant hired to promote Referendum C. “I don’t think we have the attitude which we once had in Colorado of no, no not ever” on tax issues.
“I think voters are pretty discerning and in the (13) years since TABOR it’s common to have multiple requests,” political consultant Eric Sondermann says, referring to TABOR’s measure requiring a vote on all tax hikes.
“I think voters have gotten used to sorting them out.”
We certainly hope so. Referendum C and its companion, Referendum D, which would allow the state to issue bonds for $1.3 billion in transportation projects and other needs, are vital to our state’s future.
