HomeMy WebLinkAboutNOTICE - Tabor Ballot Issue 1A
NOTICE OF ELECTION
REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2024
7:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk
170 MacGregor Avenue, Room 130
P.O. Box 1200, Estes Park, Colorado 80517
Phone: (970) 577-4771
Fax: (970) 577-4770
Website: www.estes.org/elections
Normal Business Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
LOCAL BALLOT ISSUE
This Notice of Election was prepared in accordance with Article X, Section 20 of
the Colorado Constitution and the Colorado Uniform Election Code of 1992, as
amended. The information contained in this Notice was prepared by persons
required by law to provide summaries of ballot issues and fiscal information. The
Estes Park Town Clerk does not warrant, verify or confirm the accuracy or truth
of the ballot titles, questions, text, and summaries of comments as presented,
nor is the Town Clerk responsible for errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation
of the materials presented. For information or clarification concerning the
following ballot issue, contact the respective Designated Election Official as
indicated herein. This notice is mailed to each address with one or more
active registered electors eligible to vote to vote on this question.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: POLLING PLACE ELECTION
In preparation for the April 2 Municipal Election, the Town of Estes Park is notifying
registered voters within Estes Park Town limits the election will be an all mail ballot
election. Ballots will be mailed to all active registered voters within the town limits the
week of March 11, 2024. You may update your voter registration information at
www.govotecolorado.com or complete an Absentee Ballot application at
www.estes.org/elections if you will be away during the election and need a ballot sent to
an alternate location.
The polling place at Town Hall, 170 MacGregor Avenue, Town Clerk’s office Room 130
will be open 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on April 2.
Additional important dates:
March 29: Last day to request an absentee mail ballot to be mailed.
April 2: Election Day – Town Hall polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Absentee ballots must
be received by 7 p.m. in order to be counted.
April 23: Swearing-in of newly elected Mayor and Town Trustees at the Town Board
meeting.
For more election information, please visit www.estes.org/elections, or contact the Town
Clerk’s office at 970-577-4777 or by email at townclerk@estes.org.
ALL REGISTERED VOTERS
NOTICE OF ELECTION ON A REFERRED MEASURE
TOWN OF ESTES PARK
LARIMER COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO
Election Date: April 2, 2024
Election Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Designated Election Official: Jackie Williamson,170 MacGregor Avenue, Room 130, P.O.
Box 1200, Estes Park, CO 80517; Telephone: (970) 577-4771
Ballot Title and Text
Ballot Issue 1A
WITHOUT RAISING ADDITIONAL TAXES, SHALL THE TOWN’S EXISTING 1% SALES TAX
APPROVED BY THE VOTERS BY BALLOT ISSUE 1A OF APRIL 1, 2014, THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE EXPIRE ON JUNE 30, 2024, BE EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 30, 2034, TO
PROVIDE REVENUE FOR AND BE SPENT ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
(1) FORTY-SIX PERCENT (46%) FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, REPLACEMENT,
REHABILITATION, AND RENOVATION OF STREETS WITHIN THE TOWN OF ESTES
PARK.
(2) TWENTY-EIGHT PERCENT (28%) FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE TOWN’S
STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
(3) TWELVE POINT FIVE PERCENT (12.5%) FOR THE EXPANSION AND
RECONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC TRAILS WITHIN THE ESTES VALLEY.
(4) NINE PERCENT (9%) FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A WILDFIRE MITIGATION
PROGRAM BY THE ESTES VALLEY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
(5) FOUR POINT FIVE PERCENT (4.5%) FOR THE MITIGATION OF WILDFIRE RISK FROM
TOWN POWER DISTRIBUTION LINES.
AND SHALL SUCH TAX REVENUES BE COLLECTED, RETAINED, AND SPENT AS A VOTER
APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE LIMITS WHICH WOULD
OTHERWISE APPLY UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION
OR ANY OTHER LAW?
Summary of written comment in favor of Ballot Issue 1A
No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline.
Summary of written comment against Ballot Issue 1A
Proposal 1A: Misleading Taxation Tactics! Attempting to shift the financial responsibility of
road repair funding onto a sales tax scheme is a deceptive maneuver. It demonstrates a
reluctance on the part of the Town Board to establish clear spending priorities that
adequately support essential services while living within their means, and holds taxpayers
accountable for their own poor decision-making.
The Cycle of Taxation Demands Must Stop! The taxpayers of Estes Park have already
demonstrated their willingness to contribute additional tax revenue to the Town's coffers,
voting in favor of tax increases in both 2000 and 2022 through de-Brucing measures.
These measures alone are sufficient to provide ample funds for road repair and
maintenance.
Relying on Tourist Taxes is Faulty Logic! The notion of having tourists foot the bill for our
road repairs is flawed reasoning. Warning signals from the World Travel and Tourism
Council indicate that high taxes can deter travelers from visiting a destination or result in
shorter stays, ultimately leading to decreased sales tax revenue. Approving a higher sales
tax rate is likely to discourage tourism rather than encourage it.
Sales Tax Hikes Disproportionately Impact the Economically Vulnerable! Sales taxes are
inherently regressive, disproportionately burdening individuals with lower incomes and
slower income growth. This measure will particularly harm the working class in Estes
Park, many of whom are already grappling with the challenge of paying essential utility
bills.
Lack of Transparency Is By Design! The deliberate withholding of detailed plans from the
public, works in favor of elected officials' interests. Without a transparent and
comprehensive plan made available to the public, elected officials retain the freedom to
allocate funds towards favored road projects or any other pet projects, without being held
accountable.
1A was approved 10 years ago as a temporary measure to catch up neglected town
services. Extending the tax is an easy way to keep additional funding. This hurts voter
trust by doubling 10 years to 20. Voters who supported and approved 1A in 2014 made
their decision with the promise that the additional tax would end in 2024.
1A raises sales tax by a single public vote without following the procedure to formally,
permanently raise the sales tax.
1A is now being sold as the last hope for important basic services while the Town freely
spends money on other less exciting issues and new positions. If streets, fire prevention,
stormwater and trails are important enough to ask for additional tax money, why weren’t
they made a priority in the last 10 years?
Asking for more taxes to pay for important basic services is more likely to pass than the
other projects that the Town already funded.
Last year voters rejected the fire district tax increase and strategic plan, but 1A still
includes funding for the strategic plan voters specifically rejected. The fire district already
collects taxes for wildland mitigation.
In 2015 Town staff was approx. 150 employees, in 2024 there are approx. 194 Town
employees. Estes Park census data from 2010-2020 increased just four residents.
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