Fort Collins voters split approval of 2 tax increases

Fort Collins voters had mixed feelings about the two city tax issues on Tuesday's ballot:

They said no to a property tax increase to fund affordable housing, but they were willing to pass a sales tax increase to fund parks and recreation, transit and climate initiatives

With all ballots counted, the sales tax was passed with 52.6% of the votes. The property tax increase filed with with only 40% of the votes.

After the fifth posting of results on Wednesday, 125,049 ballots were returned countywide. Fort Collins votes are only a part of that number, but around 49,500 people voted on the sales tax measure.

Fort Collins Ballot Issue 2A: A sales tax

This half-cent sales tax will fund parks and recreation infrastructure replacement, expansion of the transit system and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city.

Fifty percent of the money will go to parks and recreation, while 25% will go to each of the other other two areas.

The council put it on the ballot because it said the current budget doesn't have money to replace playgrounds that have outlived their lifespans or make other upgrades that are needed in parks and at recreation facilities. The money could also be used to construct new indoor pool facilities, for example, at the upcoming southeast recreation center.

On the transit side, funds could be used to retain bus drivers, keep fares free, add buses, increase route frequency, add routes, support a southeast micro-transit service and provide dollar matching for major projects, like West Elizabeth bus rapid transit.

On the climate side, the money could be used to increase use of electric vehicles by adding charging stations and other infrastructure, create more incentives for electrification, help people obtain e-bikes, support infrastructure to promote alternative modes of transportation, and fund efforts to achieve zero waste.

The tax will go into effect in January and will be in effect for 27 years. It will cost 5 cents on a $10 purchase, 50 cents on a $100 purchase or $5 on a $1,000 purchase. Groceries are exempt from the tax.

Nick Armstrong, speaking on behalf of the 2A For Parks volunteer team that was formed to support the sales tax, said, "Fort Collins neighbors are truly invested in their parks and pools. Thanks to the voters, these spaces we all know and love will receive dedicated funding to maintain and update them for many years to come. Every resident should feel proud that our parks and recreation facilities now have a more secure future."

Mayor Jeni Arndt said the tax's approval is an example of voters deciding to levy a tax on themselves to pay for something they want.

Ballot issue 2B: A property tax

This tax increase would have provided a dedicated revenue source to fund affordable housing in the city.

It would have increased Fort Collins' mill levy from 9 mills to 12 mills, which was estimated to amount to $107 on a $500,000 home or $160 on a $750,000 home, annually.

Arndt said the faltering property tax ballot issue to fund affordable housing was always an uphill battle. While its passage would have helped the city accelerate its momentum on building affordable housing, there are still state and federal mechanisms in place to keep building it, she said.

She said what's great about Election Day is that it reveals the will of the voters, and she trusts them to make decisions to create the community they want.

Emily Francis, who won reelection to the City Council District 6 seat and was a proponent of the tax, said if it isn’t what the community wants, then the next step is to bring people together to see how to tackle affordable housing.

There were three charter amendments on the ballot as well, and those also had mixed results.

Ballot question 2C: Felons and elections

Voters approved aligning Fort Collins' City Charter with the Colorado Constitution and court rulings that allow people with felonies to run for office or serve in office.

There are still exceptions. People convicted of one of these five felonies still cannot serve or run:

• embezzlement of public monies

• bribery

• perjury

• solicitation of bribery

• subornation of perjury

The ballot issue followed a letter to the city from the American Civil Liberties Union informing them that the city code unlawfully prohibits anyone “convicted of a felony from running for or holding a position on City Council” and has a provision that “creates a vacancy when a council member is convicted of a felony or after the City Clerk determines as much after receiving a written protest.”

Colorado’s branch of the ACLU successfully sued the city of Aurora in 2021 for a similar provision.

The measure passed with 67% support.

Ballot question 2D: City referendum process

A charter amendment to clarify the language for the referendum and petition process and "eliminate inconsistency in language" also passed.

The measure passed with nearly 82% support.

Following a referendum process in December to repeal the council-approved land development code, the City Clerk asked council to consider potentially confusing and contradictory language laying out the process followed for referendum petitions. Formatting changes were also proposed to simplify information about the requirements for petitions and make the charter language more readable.

The changes make clear that once the city clerk certifies a referendum effort, it suspends the actions of the ordinance in question, pending council repeal or voter repeal. It also clarifies the timing of steps that should occur in the process.

Ballot question 2E: Residency requirements for top city staff

Voters said no to a charter amendment that would allow City Council to decide residency requirements for city department heads, rather than keeping that decision with voters.

The City Charter says certain city leaders must live either in city limits, the city's growth management area, or within five miles of the GMA, and that language is likely to remain.

Only 47% of voters said yes to this one.

This amendment would have removed the language from the City Charter and put it in City Code instead, giving council the authority to change it in the future.

The positions in question include the city clerk, directors of a city service area or a group of city service areas, deputy city managers, assistant city managers, and city department heads. An organizational chart presented to City Council showed 44 positions affected by the requirement.

The residency requirement for city manager is separate and was not part of the amendment.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins election: Voters split on sales tax, property tax