November 5, 2019 Larimer County Elections

 
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Poudre r-1 school board director elections

Elections are being held for Districts A,B,F, and G. The only contested election is in District A Where Scott Schoenbauer, who’s approach is more conservative, is challenging the incumbent Donald Anderson. Watch the video below.

COUNTY, MUNICIPAL, & SCHOOL QUESTIONS:

Kim Monson says to Vote NO if you see either of these phrases in the ballot language:

1. “Without raising taxes…”
2. Any reference within the body of the ballot question that refers to “Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution.”
(Article X, Section 20 is TABOR, Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights)

Four reasons to vote no on Proposition CC, by janet rowland “the daily sentinal”

  1. It does raise taxes.

  2. The state does not need more money.

  3. It’s a blank check.

  4. It will gut the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).

PROP DD: VOTE NO by Kim Monson.

  1. This isn’t about water. Prop DD sets up another bureaucratic agency to regulate sports betting. This is about a new bureaucratic commission whose purpose is to collect taxes.

  2. Prop DD picks winners and losers.

  3. The legislative act referring Prop DD to the ballot is 37 pages long. This is longer than the United States declaration of Independence.

John Haley on Prop DD:

In 1982 when Colorado sold the idea of a State lottery the selling point was that 50% would go to State Parks, 35% would go for Prize money and 15% would go to administrative costs of running the lottery. What they did not disclose is that the Legislature held back the equivalent of the 50% targeted to State Parks from the general budget so they could spend the money elsewhere.

State parks got no benefit from the lottery! The Legislature got a windfall backdoor increase in revenue to spend on other things.

a few Notes on Ballot issue 4A schools:

  1. The wording is vague and includes money for budget items other than teachers, i.e. support staff, mental health professionals (why do taxpayers have to pay for them?), and security.

  2. Voters just approved a mill levy override in 2016

  3. The property taxes for businesses will also increase at a higher rate than for residences.

  4. This measure does not guarantee an increase in academic performance.

A Few notes on Ballot Issue 1A, Sales Tax Increase of 0.5% (50 cents on $100):

  1. The current combined (city, county & state) sales tax for residents of Fort Collins is 7.55%. If this measure passes, our combined sales tax will increase to 8.05%. The Larimer County portion will rise from 0.8% to 1.3%, which is a 62% increase over our current county sales tax.

  2. About half of the sales tax increase will go to county government buildings and public transportation.

  3. This measure should have been split in two so that voters could show discretion in what they support. It would have been nice to have a separate ballot issue for roads and bridges.

For more information and opinions, see the blue State ballot Information Booklet and the white Larimer County Notice of Election Booklet. Both booklets were mailed to all voter addresses!