November 2018 Voter Guide
Working collaboratively with our partners, the Downtown Denver Partnership advocates for policies that facilitate establishing Downtown Denver as one of the most economically powerful center cities in the country. We work to ensure that legislative and ballot issues and City policies positively impact our Members and all Downtown businesses. The Downtown Denver Partnership has taken the following positions on these November 2018 Ballot issues:
Caring4Denver, Initiated Ordinance 301
What is it?
Proposed 0.25% sales tax increase (25 cents on $100) to raise $45 million annually to fund mental health and addiction services for children and adults in the City and County of Denver.
Why vote YES?
Mental health and drug addiction is an issue that needs our attention as we work to build a safe, welcoming, and inclusive center city. Voting ‘Yes’ on this initiative will help us begin to more seriously address mental health and addiction in our city.
Healthy Parks and Rivers for Everyone, Referred Measure 2A
What is it?
Proposed 0.25% sales tax increase (25 cents on $100), this measure was referred by Denver City Council to raise an additional $45 million annually to fund parks and open space in the City and County of Denver.
Why vote YES?
Core to our work is The Downtown Area Plan that promotes a greener city. Well-managed, maintained, and activated public parks and open spaces enhance public safety, quality of life, and economic growth. Voting ‘Yes’ on funding for Parks creates a dedicated funding stream as called for in the Outdoor Downtown Plan.
Let’s Go Colorado, Proposition 110
What is it?
Proposed 0.62% sales tax increase (62 cents on $100) over 20 years that would provide money to the State Highway Fund (45%), Local Transportation Priorities Fund: Cities (20%) and Counties (20%), and a Multimodal Transportation Fund (15%). The projected revenue for the first year is $767 million.
Why vote YES?
Transportation efforts across the state have been underfunded for years. Our city’s economic growth depends on a strong transportation network—throughout the state and region. Voting ‘Yes’ on ballot initiative 110 will help ensure a stronger, more connected transportation network—vital to our economic prosperity.
Great Schools, Thriving Communities, Amendment 73
What is it?
Amendment 73 is a $1.6 billion tax increase for Pre-K-to-12 public education. The amendment proposes to change Colorado’s tax structure to a graduated income tax, increasing taxes for incomes over $150k by .05-3.62% and increases the corporate income tax rate by 1.37%.
Why vote NO?
The Partnership supports funding a strong education system, however we do not believe Amendment 73 is the right way to fund education. This proposed amendment is a significant and complicated tax increase that would be locked into the state Constitution. The amendment does not account for inflation, so as time passes, this will impact far more tax payers.
Fix Our Damn Roads, Proposition 109
What is it?
Proposition 109 seeks to add up to $3.5B by bond or borrowing for road expansion, construction, and maintenance excluding transit or indirect costs like administration
Why vote NO?
“Fix our Damn Roads,” allows the state to take out $3.5 billion in bonds to address state transportation projects without providing a dedicated source of revenue to pay that debt, and the debt accrued only triggers $2.2 million bonding capacity. The absence of a new revenue source would draw from state resources currently allocated to critical needs like health care and schools would have to be reallocated to transportation. The Downtown Denver Partnership is committed to mobility options for the city and state, yet this initiative only addresses projects on state roads (those managed by CDOT), meaning 88 percent of roads (which are managed by local governments) in Colorado are left with no funding at all.
Compensation for Reduction in Fair Market Value against Government Law or Regulation
(a.k.a. Takings), Amendment 74
What is it?
Amendment 74 adds 11 words to the Constitution that would allow a jury to decide if property rights have been damaged. Expands the rights of property owners in the event that laws or regulations reduce their property value. Protects property owners against “takings” by government law.
Why vote NO?
While the Partnership is a strong proponent of property rights, Amendment 74 places undue impact on urban environment and is full of unintended consequences that will impact the housing market, taxpayers, and Colorado’s economy. This amendment has the potential to expose the state to prolonged, expensive lawsuits, which could force governments to cut services and/or increase taxes to cover costs.