Contact: Janice Vos Caudill | Clerk and Recorder – 429-2710
(Aspen, CO) Local election officials are now collecting comments from the public detailing the pros and cons of six financial ballot issues in the upcoming Pitkin County General Election November 3rd. The comments collected from the public will be published in the TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) Notice and mailed to all voters 30 days before this November’s election.
“A registered elector who wishes to submit a pro or con statement regarding any of the six financial ballot issues may submit their comments to the Designated Election Official of each district, and the elector must be registered in the district,” said Pitkin County Clerk, Janice Vos Caudill. “We are required by the Colorado Constitution to publish the TABOR Notice, and it is referred to by many residents when studying an issue before voting,” Vos Caudill said.
Financial issues on the November ballot come from the following six jurisdictions, and comments should be emailed to the designated election official (DEO) of each district as indicated below:
Only registered voters residing in the political subdivision and eligible to vote on the questions can submit comments on the question, and comments must include a signature where the signer is registered to vote. The deadline for written comments for the TABOR Notice shall be filed by noon on Friday, September 18th. Tabor Notices will be mailed to all registered voters no later than Friday, October 2nd.
For more Pitkin County election information, including a soon-to-be-posted sample ballot with the text of all ballot races and measures, go to www.pitkinvotes.com.
The Pitkin County Ballot Issues read as follows:
Town of Snowmass Village Ballot Issue 2A
SHALL THE TOWN OF SNOWMASS VILLAGE’S EXISTING PROPERTY TAX FOR EDUCATIONALPURPOSES IN THE CURRENT ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $510,000.00, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2021 FOR COLLECTION IN 2022, BE EXTENDED COMMENCING IN 2022 THROUGH 2026, THE FINAL COLLECTION YEAR TO BE 2027, BY THE IMPOSITION OF A MILL LEVY SUFFICIENT TO GENERATE $510,000.00 ANNUALLY; SUCH TAXES TO BE USED FOR THE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE ASPEN SCHOOL DISTRICT; TO REIMBURSE THE TOWN OF SNOWMASS VILLAGE FOR THE COSTS OF COLLECTION BY PITKIN COUNTY; THE REVENUES DERIVED FROM SUCH MILL LEVY SHALL BE COLLECTED BY THE TOWN OF SNOWMASS VILLAGE AND BE DISBURSED THROUGH THE SNOWMASS VILLAGE PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND TO ASPEN SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH TAXES AND INVESTMENT INCOME THEREON BE COLLECTED AND SPENT BY THE TOWN AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY SPENDING REVENUE-RAISING, OR OTHER LIMITATION CONTAINED WITHIN ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSITITUTION, OR ANY OTHER LAW?
City of Aspen – Extension of Existing 0.3% Sales Tax for Educational Purposes Ballot Issue 2B
SHALL THE CITY OF ASPEN’S EXISTING 0.3% SALES TAX FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2021, BE EXTENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2026; AND SHALL THE REVENUES FROM SUCH SALES TAXES AND THE EARNINGS THEREON BE COLLECTED, RETAINED AND SPENT AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE WITHOUT LIMITATION UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION (TABOR) OR ANY OTHER LAW
Aspen School District NO. 1 (RE) Ballot Issue 4A
SHALL ASPEN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1 (RE) DEBT BE INCREASED BY UP TO $94.315 MILLION, WITH A MAXIMUM REPAYMENT COST OF UP TO $161.9 MILLION, AND SHALL DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED BY UP TO $10.55 MILLION ANNUALLY (WITH NO EXPECTED INCREASE IN THE DISTRICT’S CURRENT DEBT SERVICE MILL LEVY), FOR PURPOSES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
ATTRACTING AND RETAINING QUALITY TEACHERS AND STAFF BY ACQUIRING AND CONSTRUCTING AFFORDABLE EMPLOYEE HOUSING;
REPLACING OUTDATED PLUMBING, HVAC SYSTEMS AND ROOFING TO EXTEND THE USEFUL LIFE OF EXISTING FACILITIES;
ADDRESSING HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY UPGRADES DISTRICTWIDE;
UPDATING INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY;
IMPROVING CLASSROOMS, SCIENCE LABS, LIBRARIES AND PERFORMING ARTS SPACES;
CREATING FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, INCLUDING OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACES;
CONSTRUCTING A NEW PRESCHOOL AND MIXED-USE FACILITY; AND
ADDRESSING ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES DISTRICTWIDE;
BY THE ISSUANCE AND PAYMENT OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, WHICH SHALL BEAR INTEREST, MATURE, BE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, WITH OR WITHOUT PREMIUM, AND BE ISSUED, DATED AND SOLD AT SUCH TIME OR TIMES, AT SUCH PRICES (AT, ABOVE OR BELOW PAR) AND IN SUCH MANNER AND CONTAINING SUCH TERMS, NOT INCONSISTENT HEREWITH, AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY DETERMINE; AND SHALL AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES BE LEVIED IN ANY YEAR, WITHOUT LIMITATION AS TO RATE AND IN AN AMOUNT (NOT EXCEEDING $10.55 MILLION ANNUALLY) SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF, PREMIUM, IF ANY, AND INTEREST ON SUCH DEBT AND TO FUND ANY RESERVES FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF?
Starwood Metropolitan District Ballot Issue 6A
SHALL THE STARWOOD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO INCREASE AND ADJUST ITS GENERAL OPERATING MILL LEVY BEGINNING IN TAX COLLECTION YEAR 2021 AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER TO OFFSET REVENUE LOSSES FROM REFUNDS, ABATEMENTS, AND CHANGES TO THE RATIO OF VALUATION FOR ASSESSMENT, TO ALLOW FOR THE ACTUAL TAX REVENUE COLLECTED TO BE MAINTAINED AT THE SAME AMOUNT AS THE PRIOR YEAR, AND THE REVENUE THEREFROM TO PAY FOR THE DISTRICT’S GENERAL OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL EXPENSES; AND SHALL ALL DISTRICT REVENUES BE COLLECTED, RETAINED, AND SPENT NOTWITHSTANDING ANY REVENUE LIMITS PROVIDED BY LAW?
Colorado River Water Conservation District Ballot Issue 7A
SHALL COLORADO RIVER WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT, TAXES BE INCREASED BY AN AMOUNT UP TO $4,969,041 IN 2021 (WHICH INCREASE AMOUNTS TO APPROXIMATELY $1.90 IN 2021 FOR EVERY $100,000 IN RESIDENTIAL HOME VALUE), AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS AS ARE GENERATED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER FROM AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX LEVY OF 0.248 MILLS (FOR A TOTAL MILL LEVY OF 0.5 MILLS) TO ENABLE THE COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT TO PROTECT AND SAFEGUARD WESTERN COLORADO WATER BY:
• FIGHTING TO KEEP WATER ON THE WEST SLOPE;
• PROTECTING ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLIES FOR WEST SLOPE FARMERS AND RANCHERS;
• PROTECTING SUSTAINABLE DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES FOR WEST SLOPE COMMUNITIES; AND
• PROTECTING FISH, WILDLIFE, AND RECREATION BY MAINTAINING RIVER LEVELS AND WATER QUALITY;
PROVIDED THAT THE DISTRICT WILL NOT UTILIZE THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING TO FALLOW IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE; WITH SUCH EXPENDITURES REPORTED TO THE PUBLIC IN AN ANNUALLY PUBLISHED INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDIT; AND SHALL ALL REVENUES RECEIVED BY THE DISTRICT IN 2021 AND EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR BE COLLECTED, RETAINED AND SPENT NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LIMITS PROVIDED BY LAW?
Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District Ballot Issue 7B
SHALL CARBONDALE AND RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO INCREASE OR DECREASE ITS CURRENT AND ALL FUTURE MILL LEVIES IF, ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER 3, 2020, THERE ARE CHANGES IN THE METHOD OF CALCULATING ASSESSED VALUATION OF ONE OR MORE PROPERTY CLASS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A CHANGE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF ACTUAL VALUATION USED TO DETERMINE RESIDENTIAL ASSESSED VALUATION DUE TO ARTICLE X SECTION 3 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE GALLAGHER AMENDMENT) OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON SUCH AS ACTION BY THE LEGISLATURE, SO THAT, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE ACTUAL TAX REVENUES GENERATED BY SUCH VOTER-APPROVED MILL LEVIES ARE THE SAME AS THE ACTUAL TAX REVENUES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GENERATED HAD SUCH CHANGES NOT OCCURRED?