Greeley mayor discusses decisions on tax-extension ballot questions
The
"Council voted 6-1 to not move Keep Greeley Moving forward this year," said
Gates explained the Food Tax extension, which seeks voter approval to allow the city to continue taxing an additional 3% of grocery sales, was originally approved in 1990 and has been renewed every five years since, making this the seventh renewal, should it be approved. The Food Tax is the primary source of income for parks and recreation funding in the city, as well as public building maintenance and a number of other critical buckets contributing to quality of life.
Keep Greeley Moving is in its first iteration, meanwhile, having first passed in 2015 with a seven-year sunset.
"Folks are pretty willing to vote for (the Food Tax)," Gates said. "Keep Greeley Moving has made just as significant an impact. Like most communities going through tough times in 2008 and 2009,
The Food Tax, according to the city's website, brought in about
* Street maintenance (379 road mils, 700 miles of curb, gutter and sidewalks):
* Building maintenance (including public buildings like
* Parks maintenance (including 1,738 acres of parks and open spaces):
* American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility:
* Traffic signal maintenance:
The 3% grocery tax is the primary revenue source for these ongoing project categories. Of those, Gates is particularly proud of the city's parks.
"People say, and I hear it,
Keep Greeley Moving, a 0.65% sales tax on non-grocery purchases, is used exclusively for street-related improvements and repairs.
Gates said he thinks the city might receive its ballot question designation -- the number/letter combination that will represent the issue through the November election -- as soon as next week.
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The November general election will include quite a few ballot questions outside of
Amendment B: Repeal Property Tax Assessment Rates
Amendment B would amend the state constitution to repeal the Gallagher Amendment, which requires the property tax assessment rate on residential property decrease periodically to remain in a designated ratio with non-residential property assessment as it has since 1982. The "De-Gallagher" motion has been taken on by dozens of taxing districts across the state. This would do the same for state tax assessment.
Amendment C: Bingo Raffles Allow Paid Help and Repeal Five-year Minimum
Amendment C would amend the state constitution to change regulations restricting charitable gaming activities, allowing in part for bingo raffles to hire managers and operators of games that can be paid.
Amendment 76: Citizenship Qualification of Electors
Amendment 76 would amend the state constitution to require a voter in any election be a
Amendment 77: Local Voter Approval of Gaming Limits in
Amendment 77 would amend the state constitution and change the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning voter-approved changes in limited gaming and allow voters of
Proposition EE: Cigarette Tobacco and Nicotine Products Tax
Propsotion EE would impose a tax on nicotine liquids used in E-cigarettes and other vaping products that is equal to the state's tax on tobacco products.
Proposition 113: National Popular Vote
Proposition 113 would approve an act that would adopt an agreement with other states to support eliminating the use of the
Proposition 114: Restoration of Grey Wolves
Proposition 114 would reintroduce grey wolves on designated lands in
Proposition 115: Prohibition on Late-Term Abortions
Proposition 115 would create a law prohibiting abortions of pregnancies of 22 weeks or later, making it a misdemeanor punishable by fine to perform or attempt a prohibited abortion, except when the abortion is immediately required to save the life of the pregnant woman.
Proposition 116: State Income Tax Rate Reduction
Proposition 116 would reduce the state income tax from 4.63% to 4.55%.
Proposition 117: Voter Approval Requirement for Creation of
Proposition 117 would create a law requiring statewide voter approval of the creation of fee-based enterprises that are exempt from the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, if the revenue from fees and surcharges of that enterprise is greater than
Proposition 118: Paid Family Leave and Medical Leave Insurance Program
Proposition 118 would create a paid family leave and medical leave program in
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