Marijuana revenue is the only issue on the statewide ballot this year. Locally, the school district has a measure similar to last year’s 2C to provide broadband for non-district uses, and then there are a slew of city ballot issues: 5 referred by City Council and 2 citizens’ initiatives.
The government is only required to mail to registered electors information about ballot issues which increate taxes or debt – in this year, the state measure and Boulder’s 2N Short-Term Rental Tax. However, there is plenty of talk about economic benefit or harm from other ballot issues, specifically initiatives 300 and 301. In addition, 2O and 2P are tax extensions.
Each ballot issue has its own blog entry if you would like more information or you would like to make comments about the ballot issue. Please limit comments on this blog entry to general comments about the process or the election.
Please research the issues and candidates and vote the entire ballot. Then tell your friends, neighbors, colleagues and anyone else eligible to vote to do likewise. We would like to avoid scenarios such as the school board recall elections in Jeffco.
In general, the further down the ballot you go, the more your vote counts! At the bottom of this blog entry are other ballot issue websites as well as a link to the Boulder County Clerk’s website.
Remember that in Colorado you can register as late as Election Day, November 3rd. If you are already registered, you should receive your ballot in the mail in mid-October. Contact your County Clerk for more information.
STATE OF COLORADO
VOCABULARY
Amendment = Constitutional change
These can only be changed by a voter-approved constitutional amendment. No amendments on the 2015 ballot.
Proposition = Statutory change
These can be modified by the Colorado General Assembly.
Initiatives - denoted by numbers
Electors signed petitions to put these on the ballot.
Referenda - denoted by letters
The General Assembly put these on the ballot with a 2/3 supermajority vote.
Proposition BB
Retain Revenue in Excess of Blue Book Estimate
Allows the state to keep marijuana tax revenue despite underestimating FY 2014-15 state revenue for Proposition AA in 2013.
YES/FOR
CITY OF BOULDER
Ballot Issues --> New taxes -- listed first on ballot
Ballot Questions --> Everything else -- tax extensions listed before other ballot questions
Referenda - denoted by a number and letter
City Council put these on the ballot with a majority vote.
Initiatives - denoted by numbers
Electors signed petitions to put these on the ballot.
2N (Ballot Issue)
Short-Term Rental Tax
Legalizes, begins a regulation process for and taxes at 7.5% under-30-day rentals of dwelling units in an operator’s principal residence.
FOR
2O (Ballot Question)
Utility Occupation Tax Extension
Extends for 5 more years a tax first imposed to replace an Xcel Energy franchise fee by 2010 ballot issue 2B and extended by 2011's 2B.
for
2P (Ballot Question)
Climate Action Plan Tax Extension
Extends for 5 more years a tax first imposed by 2006 ballot issue 202 and extended by 2012's 2A to fund programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
for
2Q (Ballot Question)
Amending Charter Provisions Regarding Library Commission
Cleans up obsolete language in the City Charter.
FOR
2R (Ballot Question)
Amending Charter Provisions Regarding Compensation for Council Members
Increases annual compensation by $10,000 and provides subsidized health insurance.
for
300 (Ballot Question)
Neighborhood Right to Vote on Land Use Regulation Changes
Provides for neighborhoods to petition for a vote on land use code changes in their neighborhoods.
leaning against
301 (Ballot Question)
New Development Shall Pay Its Own Way
Requires new development with possible exception of affordable housing to pay development costs based on standards that Boulder has not yet adopted.
against
BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-2
3A
Lease Excess Capacity on Fiber Optic Networks
Permits BVSD to lease excess capacity on fiber optic networks with proceeds going to the General Fund.
yes
GOVERNMENT SITES
Boulder County Clerk and Recorder – Elections Division
http://www.bouldercounty.org/elections/pages/default.aspx
See a sample ballot, check your voter and ballot status, find a ballot drop-off location and more. You may also contact the Elections Division at 303 413 7740. You can register in person and vote a ballot through Election Day, November 3rd.
Blue Book Online (Colorado Legislative Council)
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cga-legislativecouncil/ballotblue-book
The real name of the Blue Book is the 2015 State Ballot Information Booklet – available in English and Spanish.
This site also has the link below to a page listing all the state ballot issues since 1908.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/lcs/ballothistory.nsf/
City of Boulder 2015 Election Webpage
https://bouldercolorado.gov/elections
City of Boulder Central Records Webpage
https://documents.bouldercolorado.gov/weblink8/Browse.aspx?startid=121434&row=1&&&dbid=0
MEDIA SITES
Boulder Weekly Election Guide 2015
http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-15071-election-2015.html
Daily Camera Election Page including 2015 Voter Guide
http://www.dailycamera.com/local-election-news
NON-PARTISAN SITES
Ballotpedia
http://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_2015_ballot_measures
League of Women Voters
LWV of Boulder County http://lwvbc.org/2015election.html
LWV of Colorado (English and Spanish) http://lwvcolorado.org/ballot-issues.html
This LWV of Colorado web page also contains a great “Think Before You Ink” statement to help voters decide whether or not to sign initiative petitions.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SITES
Boulder Chamber of Commerce
http://boulderchamber.com/business-advocacy/eye-ballot-2015/2015-boulder-ballot-issues/
PLAN-Boulder County
http://planboulder.org/page-1787972
The government is only required to mail to registered electors information about ballot issues which increate taxes or debt – in this year, the state measure and Boulder’s 2N Short-Term Rental Tax. However, there is plenty of talk about economic benefit or harm from other ballot issues, specifically initiatives 300 and 301. In addition, 2O and 2P are tax extensions.
Each ballot issue has its own blog entry if you would like more information or you would like to make comments about the ballot issue. Please limit comments on this blog entry to general comments about the process or the election.
Please research the issues and candidates and vote the entire ballot. Then tell your friends, neighbors, colleagues and anyone else eligible to vote to do likewise. We would like to avoid scenarios such as the school board recall elections in Jeffco.
In general, the further down the ballot you go, the more your vote counts! At the bottom of this blog entry are other ballot issue websites as well as a link to the Boulder County Clerk’s website.
Remember that in Colorado you can register as late as Election Day, November 3rd. If you are already registered, you should receive your ballot in the mail in mid-October. Contact your County Clerk for more information.
STATE OF COLORADO
VOCABULARY
Amendment = Constitutional change
These can only be changed by a voter-approved constitutional amendment. No amendments on the 2015 ballot.
Proposition = Statutory change
These can be modified by the Colorado General Assembly.
Initiatives - denoted by numbers
Electors signed petitions to put these on the ballot.
Referenda - denoted by letters
The General Assembly put these on the ballot with a 2/3 supermajority vote.
Proposition BB
Retain Revenue in Excess of Blue Book Estimate
Allows the state to keep marijuana tax revenue despite underestimating FY 2014-15 state revenue for Proposition AA in 2013.
YES/FOR
CITY OF BOULDER
Ballot Issues --> New taxes -- listed first on ballot
Ballot Questions --> Everything else -- tax extensions listed before other ballot questions
Referenda - denoted by a number and letter
City Council put these on the ballot with a majority vote.
Initiatives - denoted by numbers
Electors signed petitions to put these on the ballot.
2N (Ballot Issue)
Short-Term Rental Tax
Legalizes, begins a regulation process for and taxes at 7.5% under-30-day rentals of dwelling units in an operator’s principal residence.
FOR
2O (Ballot Question)
Utility Occupation Tax Extension
Extends for 5 more years a tax first imposed to replace an Xcel Energy franchise fee by 2010 ballot issue 2B and extended by 2011's 2B.
for
2P (Ballot Question)
Climate Action Plan Tax Extension
Extends for 5 more years a tax first imposed by 2006 ballot issue 202 and extended by 2012's 2A to fund programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
for
2Q (Ballot Question)
Amending Charter Provisions Regarding Library Commission
Cleans up obsolete language in the City Charter.
FOR
2R (Ballot Question)
Amending Charter Provisions Regarding Compensation for Council Members
Increases annual compensation by $10,000 and provides subsidized health insurance.
for
300 (Ballot Question)
Neighborhood Right to Vote on Land Use Regulation Changes
Provides for neighborhoods to petition for a vote on land use code changes in their neighborhoods.
leaning against
301 (Ballot Question)
New Development Shall Pay Its Own Way
Requires new development with possible exception of affordable housing to pay development costs based on standards that Boulder has not yet adopted.
against
BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-2
3A
Lease Excess Capacity on Fiber Optic Networks
Permits BVSD to lease excess capacity on fiber optic networks with proceeds going to the General Fund.
yes
GOVERNMENT SITES
Boulder County Clerk and Recorder – Elections Division
http://www.bouldercounty.org/elections/pages/default.aspx
See a sample ballot, check your voter and ballot status, find a ballot drop-off location and more. You may also contact the Elections Division at 303 413 7740. You can register in person and vote a ballot through Election Day, November 3rd.
Blue Book Online (Colorado Legislative Council)
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cga-legislativecouncil/ballotblue-book
The real name of the Blue Book is the 2015 State Ballot Information Booklet – available in English and Spanish.
This site also has the link below to a page listing all the state ballot issues since 1908.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/lcs/ballothistory.nsf/
City of Boulder 2015 Election Webpage
https://bouldercolorado.gov/elections
City of Boulder Central Records Webpage
https://documents.bouldercolorado.gov/weblink8/Browse.aspx?startid=121434&row=1&&&dbid=0
MEDIA SITES
Boulder Weekly Election Guide 2015
http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-15071-election-2015.html
Daily Camera Election Page including 2015 Voter Guide
http://www.dailycamera.com/local-election-news
NON-PARTISAN SITES
Ballotpedia
http://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_2015_ballot_measures
League of Women Voters
LWV of Boulder County http://lwvbc.org/2015election.html
LWV of Colorado (English and Spanish) http://lwvcolorado.org/ballot-issues.html
This LWV of Colorado web page also contains a great “Think Before You Ink” statement to help voters decide whether or not to sign initiative petitions.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SITES
Boulder Chamber of Commerce
http://boulderchamber.com/business-advocacy/eye-ballot-2015/2015-boulder-ballot-issues/
PLAN-Boulder County
http://planboulder.org/page-1787972
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