Vote on the Ballot Issues!

In 2008 voters passed both of the Boulder County ballot issues. This year voters face twice as many county ballot issues.

In 2008 voters in the city of Boulder passed only 3 of the 7 city ballot issues: 201, 202 and 2C. This year voters only have 4 city ballot issues to consider.

In a local election your vote counts for more than in a state or national election. Please vote on the ballot issues. If many people bypass the ballot issues leaving them blank, a small number of people can get their personal preferences passed. Please educate yourself on the ballot issues. If you still don’t know how you want to vote, you can always vote no and keep the status quo rather than not vote or vote for unintended consequences.

I hope this blog helps to educate you and generates some conversation about the ballot issues. Warning: The descriptions below are very brief! Each ballot issue has its own blog entry if you would like more information or to make comments about the ballot issue. Please limit comments on this blog entry to general comments about the process or the election.


BOULDER COUNTY BALLOT ISSUES

1A
Open Space Sales and Use Tax $50M Bond Authorization and 0.25% Tax Extension Issue
To continue a 0.25% (25¢ on $100) dedicated open space tax until Dec 31, 2034. The tax is set to expire on Dec 31, 2019.
lean toward yes

1B
ClimateSmart (CEOLID) $85M Bond Authorization
To continue and expand a program to make low-interest loans to property owners for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
YES

1C
$6.1M Bond Authorization for Energy Conservation Projects
To take advantage of federal stimulus dollars available at low financing to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on county buildings such as the jail.
YES

1D
DA Term Limits Extension to Three Terms
To allow the Boulder County District Attorney to seek and serve a third consecutive term as DA.
YES


CITY OF BOULDER BALLOT ISSUES

2A
Sales and Use Tax Extension
To continue indefinitely a 0.15% sales and use tax (15¢ cents on $100) due to expire on Dec 31, 2012. The tax revenue would go into the city’s general fund.
FOR

2B
Open Space General Obligation Bonds
To permit the city to issue general obligation bonds with more favorable interest rates rather than revenue bonds.
FOR

2C
Pension Bond Funding
To permit the city to issue bonds to fund pension obligations on police officers and fire fighters hired before April 8, 1978.
for

2D
Changes to Housing Excise Taxes
To substantially increase excise taxes on new non-residential development and eliminate excise taxes on residential development.
against


Get a SAMPLE BALLOT or Check Your Voting Status
http://www.bouldercounty.org/clerk/elections/index.htm
    Click on Check Your Voter Information and enter the requested data. Your voting status, precinct number, etc will appear below. You can click on Your Sample Ballot to get a practice ballot. Your actual ballot should arrive in the mail. Contact the Elections Division at 303 413 7740 if you have questions about voting.


OTHER BALLOT ISSUE SITES

County of Boulder Election 2009 Ballot Issue webpage
http://www.bouldercounty.org/newsroom/templates/bocodefault.aspx?articleid=1764&zoneid=1

City of Boulder Election 2009 webpage
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7466&Itemid=2233

League of Women Voters of Boulder County
http://lwvbc.org/

Camera Election Section
http://www.dailycamera.com/election

Boulder Weekly on the County Ballot Issues
http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-12-boulder-county-ballot-issues.html

Boulder Weekly on the City Ballot Issues
http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-10-city-of-boulder-ballot-questions.html

Yellow Scene Magazine
http://yellowscene.com/2009/10/14/2009-election-endorsements/#more-15350

Insomnia Log (Mike Ellis)
http://insomnialog.blogspot.com/2009/10/summary-of-2009-boulder-ballot-issues.html