This ballot measure would impose a new 0.15% sales and use tax for 6 years to fund transportation projects. If both 2B and 2D pass, the 0.15% tax revenue would continue through 2029. The City of Boulder has a long list of deferred transportation projects.
Recommendation: leaning against
Fixing potholes should be a core city service and, in line with the 2008 Blue Ribbon Commission report, should be paid for out of general fund monies. We have had a dedicated 0.6% sales and use tax for transportation since 1967, but we shouldn’t create more dedicated taxes nor float 20-year bonds (like ballot issue 2A in 2011) to fund short-term transportation projects.
The city staff and elected officials have felt for some time that transportation is underfunded. The voters renewed sales taxes in 2008 and 2009 while ending earmarking of the revenues. In 2010 they approved an increase in the accommodations tax, also adding to the general fund. Did any of that money go to transportation? If not, what was deemed more important? Perhaps the city should better justify this request for a new tax.
Boulder has a large and complex transportation system with residents and visitors using many modes of transportation. Not surprisingly, there is disagreement on whether current transportation dollars are being well spent. The city’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is being updated this year and will look out to 2035. The TMP will no doubt reconsider future projects if 2B (and 2D) don’t pass. Even if only 2C passes, there will eventually be freed-up money in the general fund that could go to transportation.
Sales taxes hit poor people the hardest. Some people have argued that the city should raise transportation funds from drivers, perhaps by increasing parking fees or from their employers through an in-commuter head tax. Originally a Transportation Maintenance Fee was considered, partly because it is deemed more stable, but CU, the federal labs and the school district would have been subject to it and probably would have opposed the ballot measure.
Website for the For side (Moving Boulder Forward)
http://movingboulderforward.org/
Website for the Against side
No known website. Info on opposition website is appreciated.
CITY OF BOULDER BALLOT ISSUE NO. 2B (Approved Ballot Language)
SALES AND USE TAX
SHALL CITY OF BOULDER TAXES BE INCREASED ($4,482,200 FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR DOLLAR INCREASE ANNUALLY) BY INCREASING THE SALES AND USE TAX BY 0.15 CENTS FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1, 2014 TO DECEMBER 31, 2019 WITH ALL OF THE REVENUES COLLECTED USED TO FUND TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICES SUCH AS MAINTENANCE OF PAVEMENT, CONSTRUCTION OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSIT SERVICE AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES? AND IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, SHALL THE FULL PROCEEDS OF SUCH TAX AT SUCH RATE AND ANY EARNINGS THEREON BE COLLECTED, RETAINED, AND SPENT, AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE WITHOUT LIMITATION OR CONDITION, AND WITHOUT LIMITING THE COLLECTION, RETENTION, OR SPENDING OF ANY OTHER REVENUES OR FUNDS BY THE CITY OF BOULDER UNDER ARTICLE X SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW?
- FOR THE MEASURE
- AGAINST THE MEASURE
See Ordinance 7913 to refer 2B to the voters.
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ordinance_7913_0.15_new_tax_for_transportation-1-201308271403.pdf
Transportation Maintenance Fee FAQ (on the city website)
https://bouldercolorado.gov/transportation/transportation-maintenance-fee-faq
Transportation Master Plan – 2013 update process
https://bouldercolorado.gov/transportation/tmp
Recommendation: leaning against
Fixing potholes should be a core city service and, in line with the 2008 Blue Ribbon Commission report, should be paid for out of general fund monies. We have had a dedicated 0.6% sales and use tax for transportation since 1967, but we shouldn’t create more dedicated taxes nor float 20-year bonds (like ballot issue 2A in 2011) to fund short-term transportation projects.
The city staff and elected officials have felt for some time that transportation is underfunded. The voters renewed sales taxes in 2008 and 2009 while ending earmarking of the revenues. In 2010 they approved an increase in the accommodations tax, also adding to the general fund. Did any of that money go to transportation? If not, what was deemed more important? Perhaps the city should better justify this request for a new tax.
Boulder has a large and complex transportation system with residents and visitors using many modes of transportation. Not surprisingly, there is disagreement on whether current transportation dollars are being well spent. The city’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is being updated this year and will look out to 2035. The TMP will no doubt reconsider future projects if 2B (and 2D) don’t pass. Even if only 2C passes, there will eventually be freed-up money in the general fund that could go to transportation.
Sales taxes hit poor people the hardest. Some people have argued that the city should raise transportation funds from drivers, perhaps by increasing parking fees or from their employers through an in-commuter head tax. Originally a Transportation Maintenance Fee was considered, partly because it is deemed more stable, but CU, the federal labs and the school district would have been subject to it and probably would have opposed the ballot measure.
Website for the For side (Moving Boulder Forward)
http://movingboulderforward.org/
Website for the Against side
No known website. Info on opposition website is appreciated.
CITY OF BOULDER BALLOT ISSUE NO. 2B (Approved Ballot Language)
SALES AND USE TAX
SHALL CITY OF BOULDER TAXES BE INCREASED ($4,482,200 FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR DOLLAR INCREASE ANNUALLY) BY INCREASING THE SALES AND USE TAX BY 0.15 CENTS FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1, 2014 TO DECEMBER 31, 2019 WITH ALL OF THE REVENUES COLLECTED USED TO FUND TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICES SUCH AS MAINTENANCE OF PAVEMENT, CONSTRUCTION OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSIT SERVICE AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES? AND IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, SHALL THE FULL PROCEEDS OF SUCH TAX AT SUCH RATE AND ANY EARNINGS THEREON BE COLLECTED, RETAINED, AND SPENT, AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE WITHOUT LIMITATION OR CONDITION, AND WITHOUT LIMITING THE COLLECTION, RETENTION, OR SPENDING OF ANY OTHER REVENUES OR FUNDS BY THE CITY OF BOULDER UNDER ARTICLE X SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW?
- FOR THE MEASURE
- AGAINST THE MEASURE
See Ordinance 7913 to refer 2B to the voters.
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ordinance_7913_0.15_new_tax_for_transportation-1-201308271403.pdf
Transportation Maintenance Fee FAQ (on the city website)
https://bouldercolorado.gov/transportation/transportation-maintenance-fee-faq
Transportation Master Plan – 2013 update process
https://bouldercolorado.gov/transportation/tmp
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