April 8, 2010, Denver, CO
Residents in cities and towns across the state voted on candidates and local ballot measures on Tuesday. Following is an overview of ballot results.
Fiscal
Municipal finance questions did very well
Out of 9 sales/use tax questions, 7 passed, including a first of its kind medical marijuana dispensary sales tax in Fruita
Moffat’s voters extended the sales tax to food
Keenesburg and Superior approved property tax increases
Three TABOR revenue retention questions passed in Palmer Lake
A $3.3 million bond issue failed in Buena Vista and a $750,000 debt question for street improvements passed in Haxtun
Lodging taxes failed in Nederland and Ridgway. A similar question in Sedgwick is still being sorted out because of an initial tie vote
Governance
In the area of term limits, Castle Rock voters increased council terms from 2 to 4 years
Voters in Morrison and Otis rejected eliminating term limits
Superior voters approved moving the election date from April to November
South Fork voters rejected a measure to reduce the size of the Town Board
Elizabeth voters approved conducting future elections by mail ballot
A study of home rule through an elected charter commission was rejected in Granby
Voters in 9 out of 10 towns approved publishing ordinances by title only
Five other towns approved publishing bills and other official documents on municipal web sites
Development issues
Voters in Steamboat Springs rejected an already approved annexation
In Buena Vista, voters upheld an annexation
Montrose voters approved the creation of a downtown development authority (there are approximately a dozen of these in the state)
Pagosa Springs’ voters approved relaxing certain restrictions on large retail development
Gilcrest voters approved the town’s operation of a high speed internet service
Hooper voters approved an ordinance regulating animals inside the town’s limits
Crestone voters turned down a proposal to allow tavern licenses
Marijuana
Nederland voters approved the removal of possession penalties over the age of 21
Fruita voters approved a 5 percent sales tax on dispensary products
Windsor’s voters approved a dispensary prohibition ordinance
CML is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established in 1923 and represents the interests of 264 cities and towns. For more information please visit www.cml.org or call 303-831-6411.