Boulder voters love “open space” and in 1967 became the first community in the nation to tax itself to acquire and preserve open space. The original sales and use tax dedicated to open space has been increased twice:
1967: 0.40%
1990: 0.73% (additional 0.33%)
2004: 0.88% (additional 0.15%)
Parks and Rec, a different, but somewhat related, department, has also had separate dedicated sales taxes over the years.
Currently, the 0.33% sales tax is set to expire at the end of 2018. (See ballot issue 2D regarding the 0.15% sales tax which is set to expire at the end of 2019.) If this ballot measure is approved, the 0.33% sales tax would never expire, but would be reallocated for 16 years so that 2/3 of it goes for open space and 1/3 to the general fund. Thereafter, the ratio would essentially flip with 0.10% going for open space and the remaining 0.23% going into the general fund.
Recommendation: for
Each department in the city has a Master Plan with 3 levels of planning depending on funding available: a Fiscally Constrained Plan for a minimum amount of funding, an Action Plan requiring a higher level of funding and a Vision Plan including the most ambitious ideas. With a successful extension of the 0.33% and 0.15% sales taxes, the Open Space Department would have hopes of attaining its Vision Plan while most city departments are operating under a Fiscally Constrained Plan. Let’s get the city’s budget better balanced and then go back to the voters to ask for more open space revenue if we still want it.
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 Question 2C (Approved Ballot Language)
Sales and Use Tax Extension
Without raising additional taxes, shall the existing 0.33 cent City sales and use tax for the acquisition and preservation of open space land, approved by the voters by Ordinance No. 5222, be extended beyond the current expiration date of December 31, 2018; and beginning January 1, 2019 designating 0.22 cent of every dollar taxed to fund the acquisition and preservation of open space land; 0.11 cent of every dollar taxed to fund services such as fire, police, libraries, parks, recreation, human services and other general fund purposes; and beginning January 1, 2035 designating 0.10 cent of every dollar taxed to fund the acquisition and preservation of open space land; and 0.23 cent of every dollar taxed to fund services such as fire, police, libraries, parks, recreation, human services and other general fund purposes as a voter approved revenue change?
- For the measure
- Against the measure
See Ordinance 7912 to refer 2C to the voters.
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ordinance_7912_0.33_sales_tax_for_open_space_and_general_government-1-201308271450.pdf
1967: 0.40%
1990: 0.73% (additional 0.33%)
2004: 0.88% (additional 0.15%)
Parks and Rec, a different, but somewhat related, department, has also had separate dedicated sales taxes over the years.
Currently, the 0.33% sales tax is set to expire at the end of 2018. (See ballot issue 2D regarding the 0.15% sales tax which is set to expire at the end of 2019.) If this ballot measure is approved, the 0.33% sales tax would never expire, but would be reallocated for 16 years so that 2/3 of it goes for open space and 1/3 to the general fund. Thereafter, the ratio would essentially flip with 0.10% going for open space and the remaining 0.23% going into the general fund.
Recommendation: for
Each department in the city has a Master Plan with 3 levels of planning depending on funding available: a Fiscally Constrained Plan for a minimum amount of funding, an Action Plan requiring a higher level of funding and a Vision Plan including the most ambitious ideas. With a successful extension of the 0.33% and 0.15% sales taxes, the Open Space Department would have hopes of attaining its Vision Plan while most city departments are operating under a Fiscally Constrained Plan. Let’s get the city’s budget better balanced and then go back to the voters to ask for more open space revenue if we still want it.
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 Question 2C (Approved Ballot Language)
Sales and Use Tax Extension
Without raising additional taxes, shall the existing 0.33 cent City sales and use tax for the acquisition and preservation of open space land, approved by the voters by Ordinance No. 5222, be extended beyond the current expiration date of December 31, 2018; and beginning January 1, 2019 designating 0.22 cent of every dollar taxed to fund the acquisition and preservation of open space land; 0.11 cent of every dollar taxed to fund services such as fire, police, libraries, parks, recreation, human services and other general fund purposes; and beginning January 1, 2035 designating 0.10 cent of every dollar taxed to fund the acquisition and preservation of open space land; and 0.23 cent of every dollar taxed to fund services such as fire, police, libraries, parks, recreation, human services and other general fund purposes as a voter approved revenue change?
- For the measure
- Against the measure
See Ordinance 7912 to refer 2C to the voters.
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ordinance_7912_0.33_sales_tax_for_open_space_and_general_government-1-201308271450.pdf
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