Vote on the Ballot Measures!

You could be forgiven for thinking more about next year’s election than this year’s election. From the presidential race and the National Popular Vote Compact to the US senate race to the county commissioner race, 2020 seems to be the focus.

Please vote in this election. Off-year elections also have consequences. When turnout is low, your vote has a greater weight in determining the outcome. When turnout is high, we get a better picture of the electorate’s opinions.

The two state ballot issues and two of the city ballot issues concern taxes. The other city issue concerns the city taking on debt. The one county issue has to do with term limits for the coroner.

Each of the 6 ballot measures has its own post if you’d like more information or if you would like to make a comment on a specific ballot measure. Please limit comments on this introductory post to general comments about the process or the election.

In general, the further down the ballot you go, the more your vote counts! Please research the issues and candidates and vote the entire ballot. Encourage your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and anyone else eligible to vote to do likewise. In the city of Boulder we are also voting in the city council and school board elections.

At the bottom of this blog entry are other ballot issue websites as well as a link to the Boulder County Clerk’s website. The links will be updated as more information becomes available.

Remember that in Colorado you can register and vote as late as Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th. You have 3 ways to vote:
1) In person at one of your county’s Voter Service and Polling Centers
2) Mail your ballot allowing for adequate time for postal delivery.
3) Drop off your ballot at any Colorado polling place or ballot drop box, even outside of your county.

If you are already registered, you have probably received your ballot in the mail by now.


VOCABULARY - STATE OF COLORADO

Amendment = Constitutional change [none in 2019]
Amendments can only be changed by a vote, usually a 55% majority, of the electorate.

Proposition = Statutory change
Propositions can be modified by the Colorado General Assembly.

Initiatives - denoted by numbers [none in 2019]
Electors signed petitions to put these on the ballot.

Referenda - denoted by letters (state) or a number and letter (county, city, BVSD, SCFD)
The governing legislative body (General Assembly, County Commission, City Council, or District Board) put these on the ballot.


VOCABULARY – OTHER JURISDICTIONS

Ballot Issues = Tax or debt measures
Ballot Questions = Others


2019 BALLOT MEASURES

STATE OF COLORADO

Proposition CC
Retain State Government Revenues
YES/FOR

Proposition DD
Legalization and Taxation of Sports Betting to Fund Water Projects and Obligations
No/Against


COUNTY OF BOULDER

Boulder County Question 1A
Coroner Term Limit Extension to Five Terms
YES/FOR


CITY OF BOULDER

City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2G
Tax on Tobacco Vaping Products
Yes/For

City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2H
Sales and Use Tax Extension for Open Space and Long's Gardens
No/Against

City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2I
Imposition of a Middle-Income Housing Program
Yes/For


ELECTION ADMINISTRATION SITES

Colorado Secretary of State - Voters
https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/vote/VoterHome.html?menuheaders=5
Below - a similar site with a simpler URL
http://govotecolorado.com

Boulder County Clerk and Recorder
303 413 7740
https://www.bouldercounty.org/elections/
Look up your voter registration to see a sample ballot, check your ballot status, and find the county Voter Service and Polling Center locations.


GOVERNMENTS' BALLOT SITES

Blue Book Online (Colorado Legislative Council)
https://leg.colorado.gov/content/initiatives/initiatives-blue-book-overview/ballot-information-booklet-blue-book
The real name of the Blue Book is the 2019 State Ballot Information Booklet – available in English and Spanish. The website also has the following link to a page listing all the state ballot issues dating back to 1880.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/lcs/ballothistory.nsf/

County of Boulder
https://www.bouldercounty.org/government/county-ballot-issues/2019-election/

City of Boulder
https://bouldercolorado.gov/elections

Boulder Valley School District
https://www.bvsd.org/about/board-of-education/candidate-information


MEDIA SITES

Boulder Weekly Election Guide
https://www.boulderweekly.com/content-archives/voters-guide/vote-2019/vote-guide-2019/

Daily Camera Election Page
https://www.dailycamera.com/2019/10/13/voter-guide-for-boulder-broomfield-and-weld-counties/

Colorado Sun Voter Guide
https://coloradosun.com/2019/10/11/colorado-voter-guide-2019-proposition-cc-proposition-dd/

Colorado Public Radio Ballot Guide
https://www.cpr.org/2019/10/19/2019-colorado-ballot-guide-how-to-vote-and-what-youre-voting-on/

KGNU Radio Boulder Elections
https://news.kgnu.org/category/boulder-elections-2019/


NON-PARTISAN SITES

Ballotpedia
https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_2019_ballot_measures
Entries for individual ballot measures list supporters and opponents, campaign finance information and more.

League of Women Voters
Vote411.org
See your ballot, learn about the issues and the candidates.
https://www.lwvcolorado.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=314195&module_id=353044
Colorado Ballot Issue Pamphlets (English and Spanish)
https://www.lwvbc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=629866&module_id=348482
Boulder County Ballot Issue Pamphlets


ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SITES

Better Boulder
http://betterboulder.com/ballot-measure-endorsements/

Boulder Chamber of Commerce
https://boulderchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-boulder-chamber-ballot-scorecard.pdf

PLAN-Boulder County
https://planboulder.org/endorsements/plan-boulder-endorses-five-boulder-city-council-candidates-and-2-ballot-measures/

Bell Policy Center
http://www.bellpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-Ballot-Guide.pdf


CITIZEN SITES

Mike Rosen (Complete Colorado)
https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2019/10/14/rosen-my-ballot-picks-no-on-prop-cc-yes-on-prop-dd/

Richard Valenty (Boulder citizen)
https://richardvalenty.com/2019/10/city-of-boulder-ballot-issues-2h-2i-and-2g/

Proposition CC - Retain State Government Revenues

Prop CC is a “de-Brucing” measure. Colorado’s famous TABOR constitutional amendment, authored by Douglas Bruce, limits the amount of money a government may collect each year. Excess revenues collected must be refunded to the taxpayers unless voters have de-Bruced -- given approval for the governmental jurisdiction to keep the excess revenue.

The Denver Post notes that 230 local governments have de-Bruced. State voters agreed to a 5-year time-out from TABOR refunds in 2005 with the passage of Referendum C.

Individual tax refunds, if any, are often relatively small -- projected to be between $28 and $90 per taxpayer for the next two fiscal years. The tax rate is set and can only be increased by a vote of the electorate so governments can’t willy-nilly collect as much as they want. The state typically issues TABOR refunds through property taxes or income taxes, either by increasing the refund due to the taxpayer or by decreasing the taxes due to the state. Tax filers who overpay income taxes and expect a refund will get the complete refund; Prop CC does not affect these non-TABOR refunds.

The excess revenue would be directed in thirds to transportation projects, higher education and public preschool through 12th grade.

This ballot issue started out as House Bill 1257 sponsored by the Democratic Speaker of the House KC Becker (who represents Boulder) and another Democrat. In the senate HB 1257 had bipartisan co-sponsors. The companion bill, HB 1258, with identical sponsors specifies how to allocate the excess revenues if Prop CC passes. Both bills were signed into law.

Recommendation: YES/FOR

No other state has followed our example and handcuffed itself fiscally as we have with TABOR. Its deleterious ratchet-down effect during FY 2001-02 and FY 2002-03 brought a bipartisan effort to pass Ref C which effectively eliminated the ratchet-down effect in addition to de-Brucing for five years. Now the state has the opportunity to de-Bruce permanently.

In 1992 voters passed TABOR. In 1994 voters passed Referendum A “requiring that any measure proposed by initiative or referendum be confined to a single subject.” In June of this year the Colorado Supreme Court ruled in a 5-2 decision that a ballot question to fully repeal TABOR would not be in violation of Colorado’s single-subject rule. However, repealing TABOR in one fell swoop would likely be a hard sell because many Coloradans appreciate the TABOR requirement that voters approve tax or debt increases.

A legal challenge to TABOR dating back to 2011 argues that requiring voter approval of tax increases is a violation of the Guarantee Clause of the US Constitution (Article IV, Section 4) that calls for republican governments at the state level, not direct democracy. In July of this year the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a 2017 ruling that the plaintiffs lacked standing so the challenge may now go forward on its merits. David Skaggs, who represented Boulder in Congress from 1987 to 1999, is an attorney for the plaintiffs.

Website for the Yes side – Coloradans for Prosperity (aka Yes on Prop CC)
https://yesonpropcc.com/

Website for the No side – No on CC
https://votenooncc.com/


Approved Ballot Language

Proposition CC (STATUTORY)

Without raising taxes and to better fund public schools, higher education, and roads, bridges, and transit, within a balanced budget, may the state keep and spend all the revenue it annually collects after June 30, 2019, but is not currently allowed to keep and spend under Colorado law, with an annual independent audit to show how the retained revenues are spent?

Yes/For ___
No/Against ___

HB19-1257 to refer Proposition CC to the voters
https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2019a_1257_signed.pdf

HB19-1258 specifying allocation of retained funds if voters approve Prop CC
https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2019a_1258_signed.pdf

Proposition DD – Legalization and Taxation of Sports Betting to Fund Water Projects and Obligations

In May 2018 the US Supreme Court ruled that states may legalize sports betting. Colorado, which is always looking for a way to increase revenue in a manner palatable to its voters, saw this ruling as an opportunity. TABOR requires that the voters approve this tax which would be paid by casinos from gamblers' future legal sports bets.

Casinos are supportive of this tax because sports betting would provide them with a new source of revenue. Casinos would have to pay the current 0.25% federal excise tax and an additional Prop DD 10% tax, keeping almost 90% of their after-payout revenue.

Legal gamblers in Colorado currently have the following options:
1) in-person gambling in Cripple Creek, Black Hawk and Central City casinos with maximum bets set at $100
2) the state lottery
3) bingos and raffles conducted by nonprofits
4) horse and dog racing -- arguably a form of sports betting

Prop DD’s sports betting would have some restrictions including no betting on high school sports. On the other hand, casinos would for the first time be able to host platforms for online or mobile sports betting. The CO Division of Gaming and the CO Limited Gaming Control Commission would oversee the administration and enforcement of sports betting rules.

To increase palatability to voters, the General Assembly directs most of the tax revenue toward the underfunded 2015 Colorado Water Plan. However, most of the controversy around DD is targeted at the Water Plan. Opponents argue that the Water Plan’s “projects and commitments” are vague and opine that DD stands for Dam and Destroy. The CO Water Conservation Board (CWCB) oversees the Water Plan.

The anticipated $29M annual revenue gain is a “drop in the bucket” for the Water Plan The 2015 estimate for the Water Plan was about $20B (billion) and then two years later was doubled to $40B. https://www.coloradoindependent.com/2017/08/11/parched-colorado-water-plan-20-billion-40-billion-hickenlooper-cost/

Recommendation: No/Against

Vote yes if you want to allow and tax online sports betting and help fund the Water Plan, a “dynamic document” according to its website.

I’m generally in favor of sin taxes which may discourage harmful behaviors. I like that gambling in Colorado is limited to specific locations or a few horse or dog races. However, online sports betting would provide virtually unlimited opportunities for gambling and would probably lead to hidden gambling addictions. Nor does online betting seem likely to create many casino jobs. Although CO has been a pioneer in recreational marijuana sales, maybe we should let other states take up online betting before trying it ourselves.

Rigging a sports game (to lose) could be easy for an athletic participant. With legal betting, athletes and referees would likely feel an increased temptation. And can you ask for your bet money back if the NFL admits to a bad call which determines a game's outcome? See the Oct 14th game: Green Bay Packers 23 -- Detroit Lions 22.

Political ads supporting DD feature the Water Plan portion of Prop DD, but gambling interests are providing the vast majority of the funding for the campaign. Out-of-state interests Fanduel and DraftKings are the two biggest donors to date with $750K and $500K in political donations respectively.

House Bill 1327 has many regulatory details on the gambling side – on the sports betting operator license, on who may place a bet, and on investigations by sports governing bodies – but basically nothing on the Water Plan side.

If the Water Plan isn’t a good plan, underfunding the plan is an option. Another better option is changing the plan via lobbying the CWCB or getting appointed to the board.

Website for the Yes side – Yes on Proposition DD
https://yesondd.com/

Facebook page for the No side - Coloradans for Climate Justice
https://www.facebook.com/ColoradansForClimateJustice/


Approved Ballot Language

Proposition DD (STATUTORY)

Shall state taxes be increased by twenty-nine million dollars annually to fund state water projects and commitments and to pay for the regulation of sports betting through licensed casinos by authorizing a tax on sports betting of ten percent of net sports betting proceeds, and to impose the tax on persons licensed to conduct sports betting operations?

Yes/For ___
No/Against ___


HB19-1327 (37 pages) to refer Proposition DD to the voters
https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2019a_1327_signed.pdf

Colorado Water Conservation Board’s website
http://cwcb.state.co.us/Pages/CWCBHome.aspx

Colorado’s Water Plan
https://www.colorado.gov/cowaterplan

County of Boulder 1A – Coroner Term-Limit Extension to Five Terms

In 2014 our coroner’s race was the county’s most competitive primary election. The incumbent prevailed in the primary, had no opponent in the general election and in 2018 was reelected unopposed for a third term. Now the coroner and county commissioners are asking for the coroner to be allowed to run for 5 terms rather than the current 3.

All elected Boulder County officials serve for 4-year terms and are subject to limits on the consecutive terms they may serve. Terms are considered consecutive unless they are at least four years apart.

Judges have said that an elected official is also allowed to fill out the remainder of a term of his or her predecessor. Cindy Domenico, via a Democratic Party vacancy committee election, finished out the first half of Tom Mayer’s commissioner term after his death in June 2007, was elected in Nov 2008 to fill the two final years of Mayer’s term and then was reelected to full terms in 2010 and 2014.

Current term limits for county offices are listed below along with the applicable ballot measure and its year.
2 terms - county commissioners
   1994 Amendment 17
3 terms - treasurer, assessor, surveyor and coroner
   2005 Question 1B
3 terms – county clerk and recorder
   2005 Question 1D
5 terms - sheriff
   2017 Question 1B
3 terms - district attorney (DA is a state office but the Judicial District 20 boundaries are identical to the Boulder County boundaries so our DA is often considered a county office.)
   2009 Question 1D

The two home-rule counties of Weld and Pitkin and the two city-counties of Denver and Broomfield no longer elect a coroner, surveyor or treasurer, but the CO constitution specifies election of these positions for statutory counties such as Boulder County. For Boulder to follow the example of home-rule counties, the state electorate must approve a constitutional change or the county electorate must approve Boulder County becoming a home-rule county.

Recommendation: YES/FOR

As regular readers of this ballot issues blog know, I am not a fan of term limits except for executive officers, such as president or governor, which appoint judges.

For these term-limit extension questions, the electorate often considers the person in the office rather than the position. The popular sheriff easily got term limits extended to 5 terms. The coroner may have a harder time getting a term-limit extension due to issues raised during the contentious 2014 coroner primary election.

Perhaps in the future the electorate will have the opportunity to vote to no longer elect coroners.

Website for the Yes Side
No known website – Info on a supporters’ website appreciated.

Website for the No Side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.


Approved Ballot Language

Boulder County Question 1A
(Coroner Term Limit Extension to Five Terms)

Shall the term limits for the office of Coroner of Boulder County, as imposed by state law and in Article XVIII, Section 11, of the Colorado Constitution and later modified by the voters of the County to authorize three consecutive terms, be further modified to permit an elected officeholder in that office to seek and, if elected, serve a maximum of five consecutive terms?

Yes/For _____
No/Against _____

Resolution 2019-75 referring Ballot Question 1A to the voters
https://assets.bouldercounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2019-75-resolutions-describing-ballot-proposal.pdf

City of Boulder 2G - Tax on Tobacco Vaping Products

The Boulder city council has heard from many concerned citizens about youth vaping. In order to reduce youth vaping, the city attempted to ban non-tobacco flavors, but a loophole in the law allows consumers to buy flavor agents which are sold separately from unflavored nicotine. The consumers then do the mixing themselves.

In another attempt to reduce youth vaping, the city is asking voters to approve a sales tax of up to 40% tax on vaping products arguing that youth are particularly price sensitive. Vaping product suppliers complain that Boulder should be taxing traditional cigarettes (aka their competition) too. Vaping advocates like to claim that vaping is better than cigarettes.

The tax would begin on January 1st and any revenue would first go toward administration of the tax and funding programs related to nicotine licensing, enforcement or health education. Remaining funds would go into the city’s general fund.

Recommendation: Yes/For

I’m generally in favor of sin taxes which may discourage harmful behaviors. Boulder does run the risk that consumers will just shop outside the city for vaping products and more, resulting in a loss of tax dollars. Boulder workers who vape may be less inclined to live in Boulder, adding to the in-commuting numbers.

Website for the Yes Side
No known website – Info on a supporters’ website appreciated.

Website for the No Side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.


Approved Ballot Language

City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2G
Tax on Tobacco Vaping Products

Shall City of Boulder taxes be increased two million five hundred thousand dollars (first full fiscal year increase) annually by imposing a sales and use tax of up to 40 percent of the retail sales price of all electronic smoking devices, including any refill, cartridge or component of such a product; the term "electronic smoking device" shall have the meaning as in section 6-4.5-1 of the Boulder Revised Code; and in connection therewith, shall all of the revenues collected be used to fund: the administrative cost of the tax, and thereafter for: implementation and administration of a licensing program for all nicotine product retailers; health promotion; education programs regarding nicotine product use including enforcement; with any remaining funds being available for general government services, including library, police, fire, parks, transportation and general government administration? All effective January 1, 2020, and in connection therewith, shall the full proceeds of such taxes at such rates 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?

Yes/For _____
No/Against _____

Ordinance No. 8342 to put issue 2G to the voters
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ord._No._8342_Vaping_Products_Tax-1-201909051529.pdf?_ga=2.259694602.1609871116.1571366190-2002241055.1571366190

City of Boulder 2H - Sales and Use Tax Extension for Open Space and Long's Gardens

In 2013 city voters approved 2B, 2C and 2D to impose and restructure some sales taxes. All three of these ballot issues involved changes occurring at the beginning or end of 2019. Let’s recap.

2B – a NEW 6-year 0.15% tax to fund transportation - expiring Dec 2019
2C – make PERMANENT a 0.33% tax and move a portion of the tax from dedicated open space to the general fund beginning in Jan 2019
2D – REPURPOSE a 0.15% open space tax expiring Dec 2039 toward transportation from 2020 to 2029 and the general fund from 2030 to 2039

The effect of these three tax changes was to
* Fund transportation through 2029
* Increase general fund revenue forever
* Increase open space funding in the long term
* Decrease open space funding in the short term

Ballot issue 2H asks voters to continue the 2013’s 2B “temporary” tax for 20 more years but dedicate it to open space. The city is, in effect, saying that it decreased open space funding prematurely and that they didn’t mean it when they asked for a 6-year “temporary” 0.15% tax.

Let’s look at the city sales and use tax rates:
2013   3.41%
2014   3.56% (effect of 2B)
2015   3.86% (effect of new 0.30% culture tax)
The city sales tax rate since 2015 has been 3.86% and will continue to be 3.86% if this tax passes. If this tax doesn’t pass, then the rate will be 3.71%.

Ignoring 2H for the moment, open space receives a dedicated 0.77% sales tax in 2019 and then 0.62% for the next 15 years, and then the tax goes to 0.50% in perpetuity. People and groups have argued that the city’s open space department knew about this shift and should be focusing more on maintenance and less on acquisition.

Another part of the current 3.86% sales tax is a 0.25% sales tax for Parks and Recreation expiring in 2035. While acknowledging that open space is different from Parks & Rec, the two buckets often appeal to the same voting groups.

No doubt to attract yes-votes, the ballot issue stipulates that the first year of revenue would purchase a conservation easement at Long’s Iris Gardens.

Recommendation: No/Against

If the city had asked for a 1-year extension to purchase a Long’s Gardens easement, I would have supported that. I don’t think the city has clearly made the case that it needs to extend a temporary tax for 20 years and repurpose it for open space.

Several council members worry, justifiably so, that this tax may adversely impact council’s ability to put a future sales tax on the ballot for other needs such as affordable housing. Let the temporary tax expire and have the city make the case next year that we need a new tax, perhaps for a shorter time span.

Boulder has the highest sales tax in the region. Sales taxes are regressive, affecting lower-income people most. I’d like to see the sales tax go back to its 2013 or 2014 level. Maybe we could then encourage more shopping and use of services in Boulder.

Website for the Yes Side – Open Space Yes!
http://openspaceyes.com/

Website for the No Side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.


Approved Ballot Language

City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2H
Sales and Use Tax Extension for Open Space and Long's Gardens

Without raising additional taxes, shall the existing 0.15 cent city sales and use tax for transportation purposes, approved by the voters by Ordinance No. 7913, be extended beyond the current expiration date of December 31, 2019 until December 31, 2039; and beginning January 1, 2020 until December 31, 2039 designating the revenues collected to fund the maintenance, restoration, acquisition and preservation of open space land including the use of funds generated in the first year to purchase a conservation easement at Long's Gardens located at 3240 Broadway as a voter approved revenue change?

Yes/For _____
No/Against _____

Ordinance No. 8346 to put issue 2H to the voters
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ord._No._8346_Open_Space_Tax-1-201909051530.pdf?_ga=2.74049938.1609871116.1571366190-2002241055.1571366190

City of Boulder 2I - Imposition of a Middle-Income Housing Program

This ballot issue proposes a $10M pilot program to help middle-income households afford to buy a home in the city. Program participants would have to come up with a down payment of at least 5%. The city’s program would provide a gap loan to reduce the ongoing monthly mortgage payments and to cover any down payment beyond the 5%.

The homeowner would be required to repay the gap loan with interest in one-lump sum payment within 10 years or when the home is sold, whichever comes first. A homeowner refinancing the mortgage at 10 years in order to pay the gap loan would be subject to existing refinancing rates.

The homes in this program would be deed-restricted to a 2% per annum increase in value, even if the real estate market is hotter than that, in order to keep the houses affordable for middle-income households. The deed restriction may be a disincentive for potential home buyers, but could also open up a big fight over who gets to buy the house when it goes “on the market” again later at less-than-market rates. Will a random lottery be held among all the qualifying interested buyers? Will buyers be scrutinized according to “good neighbor” criteria? Meanwhile, no help for the buyers is stipulated when housing values decrease. A homeowner could be left with an underwater mortgage.

The City of Boulder’s goal, adopted in 2008, of 450 permanently affordable middle-income housing units was considered inadequate by the Oct 2016 Middle Income Housing Strategy report which advocates building or preserving 3,500 middle-income homes by 2030. The city has deed-restricted about 110 units as permanently middle-income affordable out of over 46,000 housing units in the city. Currently, annexation is the city’s main path to create permanently affordable middle-income housing.

The permanently affordable middle-income housing program where middle income is defined as 80 to 120 percent of the area median income (AMI) or $80K to $150K, is different from the better known and relatively successful formerly 10%, now 15%, affordable-housing goal for low-to-moderate incomes.

The low-to-moderate-income portion of the city’s population has hovered around 46% for the last 30 years. Rentals and attached housing often appeal to students and individuals, but not to middle-income families who would prefer to own a single-family home in a more affordable city. The middle-income portion of the city’s population has decreased over the last 30 years from 43% to 37% with a corresponding increase in high-income residents.

Keep in mind that over half of Boulder’s residents rent. They disproportionately earn low, moderate and middle incomes. Also close to half of the employees in the city commute in to Boulder.

Boulder residents would see no increase in taxes, but because this ballot issue calls for a multi-year debt obligation, TABOR requires the city to get voter approval.

Recommendation: Yes/For

Boulder is not shy in its attempts at social engineering. The entire 2020 proposed city budget is over $400M and although the city’s water utilities and dedicated funds account for about 60% of that, $10M in debt is not a big risk for the city. The number of households that would be helped is dependent on how big each gap loan is but likely will not surpass 100 households for the first $10M. Because the city will recoup the loans with interest, the recouped money can be used again for future gap loans. Some action is necessary if we want to keep middle-income households in Boulder instead of in-commuting to Boulder.

The biggest concern with this pilot project is that if (or when) the economy deteriorates, the people we are trying to help could be overstretched. Many people in the 2008 housing crisis were persuaded to take out bigger loans than they could really afford. Let’s hope that Boulder continues its good track record of very few defaults when loaning to residents.

Housing has been a hot topic for years in Boulder. In addition to the city’s Housing Authority, in 2018 the city created a Housing Advisory Board. Some Boulder housing topics of the last decade or so include a head tax on employers for each in-commuter, cooperative housing, occupancy limits, height limits, inclusionary housing, Airbnbs, the lack of renter representation on council, the effect of open space on housing availability, regulating McMansions, BVSD possibly providing “company” housing to employees, and whether Boulder should stop wooing big businesses to the city.

Website for the Yes Side
No known website – Info on a supporters’ website appreciated.

Website for the No Side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.


Approved Ballot Language

City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2I
Imposition of a Middle-Income Housing Program

Shall City of Boulder debt be increased by an amount not to exceed $10,000,000, with a maximum repayment cost of not to exceed $15,000,000, without raising taxes, to provide for a housing assistance program that will include permanently affordable deed restrictions and make loans to middle-income households to purchase homes sold in Boulder, such debt to be sold at such time and in such manner and contain such terms, not inconsistent herewith, as the city council may determine and to pay all necessary or incidental costs related thereto by the issuance and payment of notes, bonds, lines of credit or other debt obligations as provided by the city charter, which obligations shall be payable from the general fund and any other legally available funds of the city, all without in any other way affecting the city's other taxes, revenues or expenditures under the constitution and laws of this state?

Yes/For _____
No/Against _____

See Ordinance No. 8344 to put issue 2I to the voters
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ordinance_No._8344_Middle_Income_Housing_Assistance_Program-1-201909051638.pdf?_ga=2.1462071.786627453.1570304463-1425851666.1551447775

See the 2017 Boulder Community Profile and the 2016 Middle Income Housing Strategy at https://bouldercolorado.gov/housing-boulder/housing-data-challenges

The 2018 Election and the New State Government

State voters rejected all but one of the citizens’ initiatives, the exception being Prop 111 to limit the rate charged for payday loans. In fact, voters approved Prop 111 with over 77% of the vote, the largest margin of any state ballot issue.

Amendment W to consolidate the ballot format for judge retention elections received a majority of the electorate’s support but failed to cross the 55% threshold to become part of our constitution. Perhaps the General Assembly will simplify its ballot language and refer it to the ballot again, as they successfully did with Amendment A to prohibit slavery.

All the other lettered Amendments (aka referred state measures) passed except for Amendment V to lower the age to serve in the General Assembly. The successful ballot measures receiving the most national attention are Amendments Y and Z to create independent commissions to set boundaries for the congressional and General Assembly districts.

The county and city of Boulder measures, as well as the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District measure, all passed.

Democrats swept all the statewide offices, increased their majority in the state House and are now in the majority in the state Senate. The trifecta is affecting the bills that are passing in the General Assembly, and the new Democratic state officers have been reversing actions of their Republican predecessors.