In 1993 voters originally approved this open space tax. In 1999 voters approved an extension of this tax through the end of 2019. The tax revenue through 2019 is already committed to finance bonds for purchased open space. The county commissioners would like to borrow money from an extension of this tax until the end of 2034 to pay for open space purchases now while there are willing buyers and lower prices due to the economic situation.
The total county sales and use tax is 0.65% (65¢ on $100). This proposal concerns over a third of the county sales and use tax (25¢ on $100). In addition the county collects two other sales and use taxes dedicated to open space for a total open space tax of 0.45% (45¢ on $100). See the chart below.
0.05% Non-profit Human Service Agencies
expires 12/31/2018
0.25% Open Space (under discussion in this proposal)
expires 12/31/2019
0.10% County Road & Transit Improvements
expires 6/30/2024
0.10% Open Space
half expires 12/31/2024
half in perpetutity for maintenance
0.10% Open Space
expires 12/31/2029
0.05% Jail Improvement & Operation
perpetuity
Recommendation: lean toward yes
Clearly open space is a priority for our county. Land acquisition is also a preferred protection tool of the Nature Conservancy, but they use donations rather than tax dollars. I worry about borrowing from the future when we haven’t even finished paying off the current debt. Fortunately open space should be around for the future generations that will be paying for it. Because of this and because I don’t want our county to miss an opportunity, I support this tax extension.
In addition to borrowing from the future, other concerns come to mind. I worry about a never-ending dedicated tax. I worry about having three separate dedicated open space sales and use taxes. I would understand why some people might not support this tax extension.
Website for the Yes side
http://yesonopenspace.org/
Website for the No side
No known website -- Info on an opposition website appreciated.
County of Boulder Ballot Issue 1A (Approved Ballot Language)
Open Space Countywide 0.25% Sales and Use Tax Extension and $50M Bond Authorization Issue
SHALL BOULDER COUNTY DEBT BE INCREASED BY UP TO $50,000,000, WITH A MAXIMUM REPAYMENT COST OF UP TO $140,000,000, WITH NO INCREASE IN ANY COUNTY TAX OR TAX RATE, BY THE ISSUANCE OF REVENUE BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION AND IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH BONDS SHALL BEAR INTEREST, MATURE, BE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, WITH OR WITHOUT PREMIUM, AND BE ISSUED, DATED AND SOLD AT SUCH TIME OR TIMES, AT SUCH PRICES (AT, ABOVE OR BELOW PAR) AND IN SUCH MANNER AND CONTAINING SUCH OTHER TERMS, NOT INCONSISTENT HEREWITH, AS THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY DETERMINE; SHALL THE COUNTY'S EXISTING 0.25% OPEN SPACE SALES AND USE TAX CURRENTLY SET TO EXPIRE IN 2019 BE EXTENDED FOR FIFTEEN YEARS, TO AND INCLUDING DECEMBER 31, 2034, AT THE RATE OF 0.25% FOR THE PURPOSES OF OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION AND IMPROVEMENTS, AND MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SUCH OPEN SPACE AND IMPROVEMENTS; SHALL SUCH BONDS BE REPAID FROM THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH EXTENDED TAX AND, TO THE EXTENT PROCEEDS FROM SUCH EXTENDED TAX ARE NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE REPAYMENT OF SUCH BONDS, FROM OTHER COUNTY OPEN SPACE SALES AND USE TAX REVENUES, THE CONSERVATION TRUST FUND, THE COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND AND OTHER LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDS; SHALL THE COUNTY BE AUTHORIZED, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF SUCH BONDS, TO ENTER INTO A MULTIPLE-FISCAL YEAR OBLIGATION TO TRANSFER THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH EXTENDED TAX, OTHER COUNTY OPEN SPACE SALES AND USE TAX REVENUES, AND MONEYS FROM THE CONSERVATION TRUST FUND, THE GENERAL FUND AND OTHER LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDS TO THE OPEN SPACE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON SUCH BONDS AND TO OTHERWISE COMPLY WITH THE COVENANTS OF THE RESOLUTION OR OTHER INSTRUMENTS GOVERNING SUCH BONDS; AND SHALL THE EARNINGS ON THE INVESTMENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH TAX AND SUCH BONDS, REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT, CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE; ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' RESOLUTION NO. 2009-100?
YES _____ NO _____
Resolution No. 2009-100 referring Ballot Issue 1A to the voters
http://www.bouldercounty.org/newsroom/articlefiles/1764-2009-100_POS_ext.PDF
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Though a big fan of open space, I'm opposed to this initative, for several reasons.
ReplyDelete1. If the measure is defeated, there will still be a county revenue stream dedicated to purchasing open space, if any especially good deal should come up. (OurBallotEducator points this out in his/her original post.)
2. In the end, you can only run your sales tax so high before people start going out of county to make their high-dollar purchases. Every dedicated portion of the sales tax adds up towards this maximum amount, and leaves the County and City with less flexibility. If you raise the total sales tax beyond that limit, then you end up getting relatively little additional revenue.
3. We could be coing to some hard times. The city or county may want to have some of that sales tax available to cover shortfalls in more basic services.
4. When I look around Boulder County, I see a lot of open space. I don't see lack of open space as our biggest problem now.
Eric