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2018 Local Ballot Issues - What You Need to Know

If you are registered to vote, your ballot will be in the mail sometime next week for the November 6 th general election (Note: if you are not registered, you can do so up to Election Day ).
Anthony Maine

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

If you are registered to vote, your ballot will be in the mail sometime next week for the November 6th general election (Note: if you are not registered, you can do so up to Election Day). Below is a guide to voters on city of Longmont, Boulder County, and Ward County ballot issues. As part of our mission to be a source of non-partisan news, the Longmont Observer does not take official positions on ballot issues. You are encouraged to submit your own opinion about any ballot issue.

City of Longmont Ballot Issues

The Longmont City Council approved listing 3 separate bond measures. All 3 measures would authorize the city to issue municipal bonds dedicated to the stated purpose and all 3 bonds would not authorize the city to raise taxes or introduce new taxes. To provide some context, the city’s current bond debt is $32.6 million with a total repayment cost of $41 million.

https://www.longmontcolorado.gov/departments/departments-n-z/public-information/2018-ballot-issues
2018 Longmont Ballot Issues

Issue 3A – Rehabilitation of City Buildings

This bond measure would raise up to $16.4 million to finance the rehabilitation and improvement of essential city buildings, including the civic center, library, safety and justice center, and other facilities. These buildings are close to or have passed their designed life expectancy of 30 years. The intended repairs will extend the buildings’ life expectancy, as well as improve accessibility, safety, and energy efficiency. The total estimated cost to the city with bond interest is $26.6 million. Phase 1 of these renovations have already begun.

  • The city would issue bonds for the stated purpose

  • None, as the bond measure would not allow the city to raise taxes to pay off the bond; the bond would be paid off through the general budget as funded by current taxes

  • Renovations are needed for the infrastructure and exteriors of key city buildings that are used by many city residents
  • By issuing bonds for capital building repair projects, the city is able to complete the projects sooner and reduce the likelihood of more extensive repairs or the need to rebuild these facilities

  • Longmont had to cut its 2019 budget due to sales tax shortfalls, this is therefore not the time to increase the city’s debt
  • The city should re-prioritize city services to meet building repair needs

 

What happens if it passes Pocketbook impact Arguments to vote yes: Arguments to vote no:

Source 1 and Source 2

Issue 3B – Fire Station Renovation and Replacement

This bond measure would raise up to $9.6 million to renovate or replace two fire stations: fire station #2 at 2300 Mountain View Avenue and fire station #6 at 501 S. Pratt Parkway. According to the city, these 2 fire stations are no longer functional for the needs of the community or safe for first responders and therefore need repairs and upgrades. The total bond cost would be up to $15.5 million.

  • The city would issue bonds for the stated purpose

  • None, as the bond measure would not allow the city to raise taxes to pay off the bond; the bond would be paid off through the general budget as funded by current taxes

  • These are core facilities that benefit all residents and need to be maintained
  • Bond financing distributes costs more equitably across both current and future residents

  • There are other ways to finance renovations without incurring more debt or raising taxes; the lease back agreement for fire station #1 is an example
  • Taxes and fees could instead be collected over time until there is sufficient money to pay for the repairs.

What happens if it passes Pocketbook impact Arguments to vote yes: Arguments to vote no:

Source 1 and Source 2

Issue 3C – Recreation Improvements

This bond of up to $6.8 million would finance building and irrigation improvements for Centennial Pool, Ute Creek Golf Course, Twin Peaks Golf Course, and Sunset Golf Course. According to the city, these improvements are needed to accommodate an increased number of users accessing the pool facility including families with young children, to update outdated irrigation systems, to provide for the safety and security of city-owned maintenance equipment, and to ensure that the city is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The total bond cost would be up to $11 million.

  • The city would issue bonds for the stated purpose

  • None, as the bond measure would not allow the city to raise taxes to pay off the bond; the bond would be paid off through the general budget as funded by current taxes

  • These facilities are past their expected life span and need to be upgraded in order for them to remain available to the community
  • These are facilities that benefit all residents and need to be maintained and/or kept in compliance with modern standards.

  • There are other ways to finance renovations such as through increased user fees

What happens if it passes Pocketbook impact Arguments to vote yes: Arguments to vote no:

County of Boulder Ballot Issues

For those residents of Longmont who live in the boundaries of Boulder county (see image below, all of Longmont west of County Line Road), there is only 1 county-specific ballot issue. It is not a bond issue, but rather authorization to extend the current 0.185% county sales and use tax that is due to expire at the end of 2019.

https://colorado.hometownlocator.com/maps/address/address-research,coord,40.16394:-105.10022,addr,longmont%20co.cfm
Boulder County and Longmont Boundaries

Issue 1A – Extend County Sales Tax to Fund Jail Modernization

This measure would extend for another 5 years the current county-wide sales and set use tax that was approved by voters in 2014 to fund repairs due to the 2013 Front Range Flood. The 0.185% sales tax is about 18% of the total 0.985% total county sales tax. According to the Boulder County 2018 Budget, the flood recovery tax will have raised $10.5 million in 2018; therefore, assuming current revenue projections, extending this tax would raise approximately $53 million if extended another 5 years. The funds for extending this tax would be used for the following projects:

  • Construct a new alternative sentencing facility (to be located at the current county jail campus in Boulder)
  • Remodel the current jail facility to modernize and expand services to meet the mental and physical needs of the jail population (no expansion of actual jail space)

  • The current 0.185% county sales tax would continue to be collected for another 5 years

  • For every $100 you spend on products and services that are covered by the tax, you will continue to pay 18.5 cents in the tax

  • Will enable more efficient and effective programming
  • Will ease crowding in current jail

  • The 2014 tax was a must need for the county and should not be extended for lower priority purposes
  • There is already a permanent 0.05% county tax for jail improvements and operations

What happens if it passes Pocketbook impact Arguments to vote yes: Arguments to vote no:

Source

County of Weld Ballot Issues

For those Longmont residents who live east of county line road, you will be voting on Weld county specific issues. There a total of 9 county-specific ballot issues and they all have to do with changes to the Home Rule Charter for Weld County.

Issues 1A through 1D, 1F, 1I – Corrections or updates to charter language

Each of these ballot issues would make specific language changes to the home rule charter to fix errors in references, grammar, and county review procedures.

  • The proposed language changes would be incorporated into the charter

  • None

  • These are necessary changes that need to be implemented to make country government operations more efficient

  • No arguments against were presented

What happens if it passes Pocketbook impact Arguments to vote yes: Arguments to vote no:

Source

Issue 1E – Prohibit convicted felons from elected county office

This change to the charter would not allow any convicted felon to serve in an appointed or elected county office.

  • The proposed language changes would be incorporated into the charter

  • None

  • Barring convicted felons from serving in county government would reduce the risk of criminal activities

  • No arguments against were presented

What happens if it passes Pocketbook impact Arguments to vote yes: Arguments to vote no:

Source

Issue 1G – Public notice of large county contracts

For contracts with expenditures greater than $2.5 million that must be approved by the County Board of Commissioners, this change to the charter would require notice to the public through 2 different publications at least 10 days apart and before any approval decisions are made by the Board.

  • The proposed language changes would be incorporated into the charter

  • None

  • The public should be made aware of large expenditures by the county that may not be part of the regular budget process

  • No arguments against were presented

What happens if it passes Pocketbook impact Arguments to vote yes: Arguments to vote no:

Source

Issue 1H – Amendments and non-substantive revisions to charter

This amendment to the charter would empower the Board of County Commissioners to make non-substantive changes (punctuation, grammar, or similar errors) without requiring the formal amendment process.

  • The county government could make non-substantive changes to the county charter without requiring voter approval

  • None stated in the TABOR notice, but small potential savings in administrative costs for county elections could be expected

  • Current process to correct minor errors is a burden on voters
  • Public hearings and input still required for minor changes
  • Substantive changes must still go through formal amendment process

  • No arguments against were presented

What happens if it passes Pocketbook impact Arguments to vote yes: Arguments to vote no:

Source

A second article is planned to summarize the state ballot issues that will have a direct impact on Longmont. If you have specific ballot issues or candidate races that you would like to see discussed in more depth in the Longmont Observer, please submit a news tip.