County of Boulder 1A – Human Services Safety Net Mill Levy Increase

This proposal would increase the property tax mill levy by 0.9 mill ($7 on a $100,000 property) for 5 years to backfill deficiencies in state funding for human services. An unusual feature is that, according to the ballot language, the county commissioners will review the state funding situation annually and may reduce the mill levy as state funding is restored. Resolution 2010-92 more specifically states that the mill levy rate will be reduced as “the unmet needs of eligible services … have been reduced from the prior year.”

The county administers various human services programs under the state’s direction. Recently caseloads have increased, state funding has decreased, and the county was required by 2008 state statute to spend down any TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) reserves, money which previously was available for a rainy-day fund. State law requires counties to raise money for human services delivery through property taxes. (In Boulder County voters also approved a 0.05% Worthy Cause sales tax in 2000 with 2 extensions through 2018, but this goes toward capital improvements and equipment for local human services non-profits.)

Recommendation: yes

According to the 2010 Kids Count in Colorado! report, between 2000 and 2008 the number of children living in poverty grew faster in Colorado than in any other state. The percentage of Boulder County residents who live in poverty grew from 9.5% in 2000 to 10.7% in 2008 and jumped to 13.9% in 2009 (Camera, Sept 29, 2010). Boulder’s 2009 rate is higher than the state’s poverty rate of 12.9%.

Money received by the needy typically gets spent within the community almost immediately, contributing to economic vitality. This proposal is for a temporary backfill and the amount will be revisited every year to see if human service needs still warrant the full mill levy increase.

In these tough economic times this is a tax that will make a positive difference in our community.


Facebook page for the Yes side (Neighbors Helping Neighbors)
http://www.facebook.com/Yeson1a

Website for the No side
No known website -- Info on an opposition website appreciated.


County Issue 1A (Approved Ballot Language)

[Human Services Safety Net Mill Levy Increase]

SHALL BOULDER COUNTY TAXES BE INCREASED $5.4 MILLION ANNUALLY (FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR DOLLAR INCREASE IN 2011) THROUGH AN INCREASE IN BOULDER COUNTY'S AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX MILL LEVY OF 0.9 MILL, FOR FIVE YEARS TO AND INCLUDING 2015, THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH SHALL BE USED TO BACKFILL DEFICIENCIES IN STATE FUNDING FOR COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS AND FOR CONTRACTS WITH NON-PROFIT AGENCIES MAINTAINING A SAFETY NET FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN BOULDER COUNTY, SUCH INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES TO BE IN EXCESS OF THAT WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE BE PERMITTED UNDER SECTION 29 1 301, C.R.S., EACH YEAR WITHOUT SUCH INCREASE, AND A VOTER-APPROVED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE CHANGE AND A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE; AND SHALL THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, IN SETTING THE ANNUAL MILL LEVY AS AUTHORIZED BY THIS ISSUE, REDUCE THE EFFECTIVE TEMPORARY MILL LEVY FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEAR IN WHICH STATE FUNDING HAS BEEN PARTIALLY OR FULLY RESTORED FOR COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS, ALL AS MORE PARTICULARLY SET FORTH IN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' RESOLUTION NO. 2010-92?

YES ____ NO ____

See Resolution 2010-92 to refer 1A to the ballot.
http://www.bouldercounty.org/bocc/Ballot_Issues/Res_2010-92_Human_Services_Safety_Net_Mill_Levy_Boulder_County_Issue_1A.pdf