The last time the county had a tax increase on the ballot was in 2010 when voters saw 2 tax increases including the original Human Services Safety Net Mill Levy. The goal of the mill levy increase then was to backfill deficiencies in state funding for human services. It was called the TSN for Temporary Safety Net. The word “temporary” isn’t being mentioned this time around. The county is asking to extend this tax for 15 more years. Unlike the 2010 ballot issue, there is no suggestion that the commissioners will review human service needs annually and consider levying only part of the full 0.9 mills.
Future funds would go to the same programs directed by the Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services that past funds have supported including Basic Needs and Family Stability, Housing, Health Coverage, Child Care, and Mental Health Services.
In 2014 the Safety Net mill levy was not a large portion of Boulder County’s total property tax mill levy, only about 3½% and generated just over $5M. The entire Dept of Housing and Human Services has a budget of almost $92M, about 25% of the entire county budget.
Thirty-nine percent of the county’s revenue comes from property taxes. The 2005 ballot issue 1A allowed the property tax mill levy going to Boulder County to increase to the TABOR maximum of 23.745 mills. The 2010 TSN ballot issue allowed the TABOR max to increase by 0.9 of a mill. The 2014 mill levy of 25.120 included 0.475 mills to “recover property taxes refunded and abated in 2013.”
Recommendation: leaning toward yes
In 2010 with the 2008 economic crash a very recent memory, a new 5-year mill levy increase was reasonable. This time on the ballot, there is no talk of a temporary backfill. The economy has improved, yet the commissioners are asking for a 15-year extension this time around. I would prefer a 5-year extension or, if allowed by TABOR, admitting that the county expects this to be a permanent need and making this a permanent mill levy increase.
The reason I’m supporting this ballot issue is because I believe (and studies show) that money spent helping people as early as possible saves us from later paying increased judicial system and public assistance costs and for treatment for drug addiction and behavioral (formerly known as mental) health problems. The $5M annually generated by this tax is less than 1½% of the county’s budget. If this mill levy extension were not to pass, I would hope that the county commissioners could find money in the budget to continue addressing these important human service needs.
Website for the Yes side (Safety Net Campaign)
http://keepthesafetynet.org/
Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opposition website appreciated.
Approved Ballot Language
BOULDER COUNTY BALLOT ISSUE 1B
(Human Services Safety Net Mill Levy Extension):
WITH NO INCREASE IN ANY COUNTY TAX, SHALL BOULDER COUNTY’S 0.9 MILL AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX MILL LEVY BE EXTENDED FOR FIFTEEN YEARS TO AND INCLUDING DECEMBER 31, 2030 FOR THE PURPOSES OF FILLING DEFICIENCIES IN STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR COUNTY HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS AND FOR CONTRACTS WITH NON-PROFIT AGENCIES MAINTAINING A SAFETY NET FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN BOULDER COUNTY, THE REVENUES OF SAID EXTENDED PROPERTY TAX TO BE IN EXCESS OF THAT WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE BE PERMITTED UNDER SECTION 29-1-301, C.R.S., EACH YEAR WITHOUT SUCH EXTENSION; AND SHALL THE REVENUES AND EARNINGS ON THE INVESTMENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH TAX, REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT, CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND A PROPERTY TAX REVENUE CHANGE; ALL AS MORE PARTICULARLY SET FORTH IN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' RESOLUTION NO. 2014-69?
YES ____
NO ____
Resolution 2014-69 describing ballot issue 1B
http://www.bouldercounty.org/doc/government/2014hssnext.pdf
Resolution 2014-77 certifying ballot titles for 1A and 1B
http://www.bouldercounty.org/doc/government/2014certifiedballottitles.pdf
Future funds would go to the same programs directed by the Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services that past funds have supported including Basic Needs and Family Stability, Housing, Health Coverage, Child Care, and Mental Health Services.
In 2014 the Safety Net mill levy was not a large portion of Boulder County’s total property tax mill levy, only about 3½% and generated just over $5M. The entire Dept of Housing and Human Services has a budget of almost $92M, about 25% of the entire county budget.
Thirty-nine percent of the county’s revenue comes from property taxes. The 2005 ballot issue 1A allowed the property tax mill levy going to Boulder County to increase to the TABOR maximum of 23.745 mills. The 2010 TSN ballot issue allowed the TABOR max to increase by 0.9 of a mill. The 2014 mill levy of 25.120 included 0.475 mills to “recover property taxes refunded and abated in 2013.”
Recommendation: leaning toward yes
In 2010 with the 2008 economic crash a very recent memory, a new 5-year mill levy increase was reasonable. This time on the ballot, there is no talk of a temporary backfill. The economy has improved, yet the commissioners are asking for a 15-year extension this time around. I would prefer a 5-year extension or, if allowed by TABOR, admitting that the county expects this to be a permanent need and making this a permanent mill levy increase.
The reason I’m supporting this ballot issue is because I believe (and studies show) that money spent helping people as early as possible saves us from later paying increased judicial system and public assistance costs and for treatment for drug addiction and behavioral (formerly known as mental) health problems. The $5M annually generated by this tax is less than 1½% of the county’s budget. If this mill levy extension were not to pass, I would hope that the county commissioners could find money in the budget to continue addressing these important human service needs.
Website for the Yes side (Safety Net Campaign)
http://keepthesafetynet.org/
Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opposition website appreciated.
Approved Ballot Language
BOULDER COUNTY BALLOT ISSUE 1B
(Human Services Safety Net Mill Levy Extension):
WITH NO INCREASE IN ANY COUNTY TAX, SHALL BOULDER COUNTY’S 0.9 MILL AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX MILL LEVY BE EXTENDED FOR FIFTEEN YEARS TO AND INCLUDING DECEMBER 31, 2030 FOR THE PURPOSES OF FILLING DEFICIENCIES IN STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR COUNTY HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS AND FOR CONTRACTS WITH NON-PROFIT AGENCIES MAINTAINING A SAFETY NET FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN BOULDER COUNTY, THE REVENUES OF SAID EXTENDED PROPERTY TAX TO BE IN EXCESS OF THAT WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE BE PERMITTED UNDER SECTION 29-1-301, C.R.S., EACH YEAR WITHOUT SUCH EXTENSION; AND SHALL THE REVENUES AND EARNINGS ON THE INVESTMENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH TAX, REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT, CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND A PROPERTY TAX REVENUE CHANGE; ALL AS MORE PARTICULARLY SET FORTH IN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' RESOLUTION NO. 2014-69?
YES ____
NO ____
Resolution 2014-69 describing ballot issue 1B
http://www.bouldercounty.org/doc/government/2014hssnext.pdf
Resolution 2014-77 certifying ballot titles for 1A and 1B
http://www.bouldercounty.org/doc/government/2014certifiedballottitles.pdf
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