City of Boulder 2K – Recreation and Safety Bond

The city is asking voters for permission to borrow $400M to update municipal buildings, including the North and South Recreation Centers, fire stations and the Public Safety Building. The city would pay the loan back by increasing property taxes up to $32.5M annually.

If 2K passes, but 2M does not, then the city won’t be able to borrow the entire $400M.

Recommendation: Tax

After years of city voters generously agreeing to be taxed, this year an active group is fighting this tax increase. The city’s fiscal management is also a topic of the council and mayoral contests.

Website for the Yes Side – No registered issue committee
https://bouldercolorado.gov/guide/recreation-and-safety-bond

Website for the No Side – No on 2K – Demand Fiscal Responsibility
https://www.voteno2k.org/


Approved Ballot Language
City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2K
RECREATION AND SAFETY BOND (TABOR)

SHALL CITY OF BOULDER DEBT BE INCREASED UP TO $400,000,000, WITH A MAXIMUM REPAYMENT COST UP TO $650,000,000, AND SHALL CITY TAXES BE INCREASED UP TO $32,500,000 ANNUALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, OR REPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITY RECREATION, SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS, SUCH AS:
I) THE SOUTH BOULDER RECREATION CENTER, INCLUDING A LAP POOL;
II) THE NORTH BOULDER RECREATION CENTER, INCLUDING AQUATICS AMENITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED TO CO-LOCATE WEST AGE WELL SENIOR CENTER;
III) FIRE STATIONS (TO SUSTAIN EMERGENCY AND WILDFIRE RESPONSE CAPABILITIES);
IV) A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING FOR POLICE AND 911 SERVICES;
V) PENFIELD TATE II MUNICIPAL BUILDING; AND
VI) THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTER (TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, SUCH AS SNOW REMOVAL, UTILITY MAINTENANCE, AND CITY STREET OPERATIONS);
IN ORDER TO SUPPORT RECREATION, SAFETY, AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES;
THROUGH THE ISSUANCE AND PAYMENT OF GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT, WITH SUCH DEBT CONTAINING SUCH TERMS, NOT INCONSISTENT HEREWITH, AS THE CITY COUNCIL MAY DETERMINE; AND IN CONNECTION THEREWITH,
SHALL AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES BE LEVIED WITHOUT LIMITATION AS TO THE RATE, BUT NOT MORE THAN THE AMOUNTS LISTED ABOVE, TO GENERATE AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT IN EACH YEAR TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF, PREMIUM, IF ANY, AND INTEREST ON SUCH DEBT OR ANY REFUNDING DEBT (OR TO CREATE A RESERVE FOR SUCH PAYMENT); AND
SHALL THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH DEBT AND RESERVES AND THE REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES AND ANY INVESTMENT INCOME EARNED FROM SUCH PROCEEDS AND REVENUES BE COLLECTED AND SPENT WITHOUT LIMITATION OR CONDITION AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE LIMITS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW?

YES/FOR ___
NO/AGAINST ___

Ordinance 8758 to refer 2K to the voters
https://documents.bouldercolorado.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=203200&dbid=0&repo=LF8PROD2