This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
The following questions were presented to the Longmont City Council during the July 25, 2017 meeting. The discussion regarded the wording contained in each potential ballot question.
Suggested wording for Marijuana Tax ballot question:
SHALL CITY OF LONGMONT TAXES BE INCREASED $1.3 MILLION ANNUALLY IN THE FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS AS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY THE IMPOSITION OF AN ADDITIONAL SALES TAX OF 3.40 PERCENT, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF THIRTY-FOUR CENTS ON EACH TEN DOLLAR PURCHASE, BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2018, ON THE SALE OF RETAIL MARIJUANA AND RETAIL MARIJUANA PRODUCTS AS PROVIDED IN ORDINANCE O-2017-XX WITH THE RATE OF TAX BEING ALLOWED TO BE INCREASED OR DECREASED WITHOUT FURTHER VOTER APPROVAL SO LONG AS THE RATE OF TAXATION DOES NOT EXCEED 15%; SHALL THE REVENUES FROM SUCH TAX AND ANY INVESTMENT INCOME EARNED FROM SUCH REVENUES BE COLLECTED AND SPENT AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER SECTION 20 OF ARTICLE X OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION; AND SHALL ORDINANCE O-2017-XX BE APPROVED?
The debated topic on this ballot question is highlighted in the question itself. The wording as stated above passed 6-1 with Councilman Santos descending. Jim Golden, Director of Finance, stated that the numbers 3.4 will be changed to 3 percent tax.
Suggested wording for the Public Safety Sales & Use Tax ballot question:
SHALL CITY OF LONGMONT TAXES BE INCREASED $6.2 MILLION ANNUALLY IN THE FIRST FULL YEAR AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS AS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY INCREASING THE CITY SALES AND USE TAX RATE FROM 3.275 PERCENT TO 3.53 PERCENT, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF TWO AND ONE FIFTY-FIVE ONE HUNDRETH CENTS ON EACH TEN DOLLAR PURCHASE, BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2018, WITH PROCEEDS USED EXCLUSIVELY TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY OF LONGMONT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: • POLICE OFFICERS AND PERSONNEL FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND TO INVESTIGATE SEX ASSAULTS; • POLICE OFFICERS TO ENSURE SAFETY OF OFFICERS AND TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE; • EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS FOR 911 RESPONSE; • FIREFIGHTERS TO ENSURE SAFE AND SUFFICENT RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES; • PERSONNEL TO SUPPORT EMERGENCY PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONDERS; AND • POLICE AND FIRE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES TO ENSURE SAFETY; SHALL THE REVENUES FROM SUCH TAX AND ANY INVESTMENT INCOME EARNED FROM SUCH REVENUES BE COLLECTED AND SPENT AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER SECTION 20 OF ARTICLE X OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION; AND SHALL ORDINANCE O-2017-XX, WHICH INCREASES THE SALES AND USE TAX RATE, BE APPROVED?
Council agreed that the language used for the ballot question was appropriate.
Suggested wording for Windy Gap Firming Project Water Bond ballot question:
SHALL CITY OF LONGMONT DEBT BE INCREASED IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $36,300,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WINDY GAP FIRMING PROJECT; AND SHALL THE DEBT BE EVIDENCED BY BONDS, LOAN AGREEMENTS OR OTHER FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS PAYABLE SOLELY FROM THE CITY’S WATER ENTERPRISE REVENUES AND BE ISSUED AT ONE TIME OR IN A SERIES AT A PRICE ABOVE, BELOW OR EQUAL TO THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SUCH DEBT AND WITH SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR REDEMPTION PRIOR TO MATURITY WITH OR WITHOUT PAYMENT OF PREMIUM, AS THE CITY COUNCIL MAY DETERMINE?
Councilman Bagley asked for clarifying language to be added to include the amount of acre feet needed for the project. Councilwoman Finley also asked that the wording mention the construction of the water storage reservoir.
The ballot question language will be changed to include the 10,000-acre feet wording and the Council agreed to revisit the ballot question at August 22, 2017 meeting.
To watch the Longmont City Council discuss the language of the ballot questions, please watch the video below:
https://youtu.be/27hCtcq1DV4?t=3h2m59s
