DENVER—Tuesday’s election is about more than heady issues like who will lead the nation or represent Colorado in Congress. Voters are deciding tough local issues, including issuing bonds for schools, a $27 million water project, term limits and allowing municipalities to keep tax-surplus refunds.
Sam Mamet, executive director of the Colorado Municipal League, said seven communities have bond issues. Among them is the northeastern town of Brush, which is proposing $3.2 million in debt for park improvements. Durango and Telluride want money for transportation, and Wheat Ridge is seeking $9 million for flood control.
Mamet, whose league represents about 260 municipalities, said many local governments are going directly to voters for funding needs because of fears that state and federal funds will dry up. Those governments worry that voters who traditionally have supported local projects might be swayed by an economy on the brink of recession.
“The needs have always been there, and we are not getting sufficient financial support from the state or federal government,” Mamet said. “The real question is if the state of the economy is going to affect the bond and tax questions.”
Voters in Yuma County, on the eastern plains, will decide whether to increase property taxes by an estimated $27 million to settle a water dispute that could shut down at least 1,300 irrigation wells and hurt farming. The bond issue would be used to buy water rights in the Republican River and end a conflict among owners of wells and surface water rights.
Nearly two dozen communities seek tax increases for recreation projects, public safety and streets. Salida is asking voters to eliminate the property tax in exchange for an increased sales tax. Buena Vista and Mountain View propose a construction materials use tax.
Moffat wants to extend its sales tax to include food, and Boulder, Crested Butte, Northglenn, Steamboat Springs and Trinidad want to keep collecting expiring sales taxes. Lafayette wants money for emergency services, and Estes Park wants a local marketing and promotions tax.
The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority is asking voters in Aspen and surrounding areas for a 0.4 percent sales and use tax increase to expand service. The increase would amount to 4 cents per $10 purchase.
In Brookside, voters will decide whether to remove term limits on the town board and determine if ordinances should be published by title only.
Boulder, Grand Junction, Idaho Springs and Littleton are asking taxpayers to give up some of their tax-surplus refunds to pay for local services, while Longmont voters will review a proposed charter amendment establishing collective bargaining for police and fire department employees.
