Longmont staff will begin drafting language on several ballot questions for cultural projects within the city.
During Tuesday’s study session, Longmont City Council gave direction to staff to begin drafting questions to ask for taxpayer support of four different projects in Longmont. Staff will bring the drafted language to council in August, which will have to go through two readings before being placed on the city’s ballot for November.
Council was supportive of asking voters for a new recreation center at Dry Creek Park and a new library branch to possibly be housed in the same building, though these questions will be separate on the ballot. The rec center is estimated to cost around $72 million with the new library branch at $25.7 million.
Council also will ask voters, with the library branch expansion, to approve a sales tax increase to bring the library up to its preferred level of service.
Another ballot question will ask voters for $45 million — if project proponents can first fundraise $35 million within five years — for a new arts and entertainment center. Redevelopment of the Sugar Factory is now being reviewed as an option for council to consider as a location for the center along with the STEAM area and a hotel and conference center.
For these three projects, a total of 5.68 mills would need to be levied on properties if all three passed for 20 years. Sales taxes would increase by 0.35 in perpetuity.
As for the proposal to potentially swap the Longmont YMCA complex for Centennial Pool with a $12 million contribution from city taxpayers, council had a lot of questions. Staff will still draft ballot questions for the proposal — one combining the proposal with the new recreation center and one standing on its own.
If passed, this would increase property tax mills by 2 for three years.
If all these measures passed, property taxes for a home valued at $500,000 would increase by roughly $307, while sales tax on a $100 purchase would go up by around 30 cents. These numbers will be more definite with the drafted ballot language.
