City of Boulder 2J – Approve Incurrence of Debt with Repayment from Ballot Issue 2I Tax

Ballot Issue 2J asks voters to approve taking on debt to complete projects in the next few years and repay the debt over 15 years with the revenue from an extended Community, Culture, (Resilience) and Safety Tax in Ballot Issue 2I. Ballot Issues 2I and 2J must both pass for 2J to take effect.

The 2I tax extension is expected to realize about $200M in revenue. This 2J debt measure asks voters to approve $110M in debt with a maximum repayment of $158M so more than three-fourths of the tax revenue could go toward debt-financed projects.

Recommendation: no/against

Some of the large projects planned for 2J – replacing the Central Avenue bridge and constructing fire stations – are worthy of issuing bonds. Other projects could and should be paid for out of annual tax revenues without taking on debt.

For instance, many people would argue that fixing potholes and maintaining parks is a primary and ongoing function of local government. This sort of maintenance should be paid for out of a maintenance fund, not out of debt repaid over 15 years. Roads and parks need upgrades and maintenance on a regular basis. Imagine taking out a 15-year loan to pay for a roof that only lasts 10 years. What is the plan for paying for a replacement roof when you haven’t finished paying for the first roof?

Voters should reject 2J. The city should come back next year with a smaller, more targeted set of projects that won’t use up so much of our tax revenue. A revised plan will help the city to be more resilient in the future.

Website for the Yes side
No known website – Info on a proponents’ website appreciated.

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


Approved Ballot Language (mostly following the less capitalized format on the city’s website)
City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2J

Shall City of Boulder debt be increased up to $110,000,000 (principal amount) with a maximum repayment cost of up to $158,000,000 (such amount being the total principal and interest that could be payable over the maximum life of the debt) to be payable solely from the extension of the Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety Sales and Use Tax of 0.3% (previously known as the Community, Culture and Safety Tax), if separately approved;

such debt to be sold at such time and in such manner and to contain such terms, not inconsistent herewith, as the city council may determine, with the proceeds of such debt and earnings thereon being used to fund city capital improvement projects and non-profit projects that serve the people of Boulder payable from such sales and use tax extension including, among other things:

maintain and improve roads and multi-modal paths; replace critically deteriorated signal poles; replace Central Avenue bridge; improve the Boulder Creek Path corridor; implement the Boulder Civic Area Phase 2/Central Park improvements; complete Fire Station 3 construction; relocate or reconstruct Fire Station 2 or Fire Station 4; purchase emergency vehicles for Boulder Fire-Rescue to provide advanced life support; renovate East Boulder Recreation Center; acquire streetlight system and convert to LED lights; refresh Pearl Street Mall; or used to fund other city capital improvement projects and projects of non-profit organizations otherwise payable from said sales and use tax;

and in connection therewith, shall any earnings from the investment of the proceeds of such debts constitute a voter approved revenue change and an exception to the revenue and spending limits of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution?

YES/FOR _____
NO/AGAINST _____

Ordinance No. 8487 to put Issue 2J to the voters
Ordinance 8487 or go to https://bouldercolorado.gov/nov-2-2021-boulder-election-ballot-measures-and-candidates