Endorsements November 2019

November 2019 Coordinated Election

Ballots are in the mail and are due November 5, 2019!

Ballot Issues

*these endorsements have not been officially approved by the board*

Fountain Municipality Issues

2A: Increase Taxes

Vote no. This is a tax and spending increase. Moving Fountain Forward and road improvements are already funded. The city needs to stay within budget to complete these projects.

Colorado Springs Municipality Issues

2B: Retain Excess Tax Revenues

Vote No. This measure defeats the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights and leaves $7M for the city to allocate at its whim toward infrastructure that is enjoyed primarily by the city’s advantaged citizens.

2C: Extend temporary sales and use tax but at 8% reduction

Vote No. This misleading bill disguised as road repair & improvement contains and open ended provision allowing the city to spend the revenue on unspecified “improvements within the city.”

Manitou Springs Municipality Issues

2D: Increase Sale and Use Tax

Vote No. This increased burden on the citizens of Manitou Springs voids any protection they have from the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights and it is presented as supporting “arts, culture and heritage,” hardly a high priority for people struggling to make a living.

2E: Retain Excess Tax Revenues

Vote No. TABOR requires excess taxes to be returned to the citizens for the very good reason of keeping legislators responsible to the taxpayers for responsible budgeting. Bypassing TABOR is never a good idea even in this case, where the funds are to be allocated for the purpose for which that taxes were initially levied in 2003, for downtown public facilities.

Lewis-Palmer Consolidated School District No. 38

4A: Bond for New Elementary School

Vote Yes: District 38 needs more capacity and this bond is solely for building a new school.

Calhan School District Rj1

5B: Increase debt and taxes for school improvements

Vote No. This is a tax, debt, and spending increase. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund athletic facilities and performing arts centers. The school district is currently funded and should stay within budget.

Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District

6A: Property Tax Mill Levy

Vote No. They want to set a 22% annual increase on static autopilot. Perpetual tabor override to maintain desired spending without fiscal responsibility.

Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District

6B: Retain Excess Tax Revenue

Vote no. This allows this fire district to keep excess taxes which are collected. If it was only to keep all of the grants and revenue from other sources I would support it, but I do not support allowing the district to keep and spend more taxpayer money than is owed.

Peyton Fire Protection District

6C: Increase Debt for New Fire Station

Vote No. Ominous words like “not limited to” and “levy imposed without limitation” make it clear that the interests of taxpayers are not a priority

6D: Mill Levy

Vote No. This bill exempts itself from TABOR and proposes spending without limitation.

Stratmoor Hills Water/Sanitation District

6E: Retain Excess Tax Revenue

Vote no. This allows this water district to keep excess taxes which are collected. If it was only to keep all of the grants and revenue from other sources I would support it, but I do not support allowing the district to keep and spend more taxpayer money than is owed.

6F: Retain excess tax revenue

Vote no. This allows the sanitation district to keep and spend excess taxes which are collected. If it was only to keep all of the grants and revenue from other sources I would support it, but I do not support allowing the district to keep and spend more taxpayer money than is owed.

Hanover Fire Protection District

6G: Increase taxes for fire protection

No endorsement for or against. This is a property tax increase. Normally I would immediately say no, but Hanover Fire District is currently spending more than it is bringing in. Fire protection is an important community safety measure and there aren’t currently any free market alternatives.

Candidates

LPEPC is not endorsing any candidates in this election. Please research the individuals on your ballot.

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