CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. 37-10

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING AMENDMENT 60 ON THE NOVEMBER 2, 2010 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT

RECITALS.
Amendment 60, an initiated ballot measure to amend the Colorado Constitution, has been certified for consideration by the voters of the State of Colorado at the November 2, 2010 election. Amendment 60 would among other things change Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution (TABOR) to create additional restrictions on the collection and use of property taxes.

•  Amendment 60 will immediately undo prior voter-approved property tax decisions. So called “de-Brucing” or “TABOR excess revenue” election decisions will be overturned.

o  In 2007 Grand Junction residents voted to allow the City to keep excess property tax revenue to pay down the Parkway Debt. That voter-approved measure would immediately expire with the passage of Amendment 60.

 

•  Amendment 60 requires the State to audit and enforce the provisions of the Amendment.

 

•  Amendment 60 would allow out-of-state residents to vote on property tax issues in jurisdictions where they own property.

 

•  Amendment 60 requires school districts (such as Mesa County School District 51) to reduce their non-debt mill levy by 50% between 2011 and 2020. That requirement reduces operations and maintenance budgets 50% over the next 10 years and obligates the State to make up the difference which has been estimated by the Legislative Council to be more than $1.5 billion annually.

 

•  Amendment 60 requires property tax questions to be voted on only in November elections and must be independent of debt issues.

 

•  Amendment 60 allows for “petitions” to lower property taxes. The amendment does not specify the form of the petition or the process. The vagueness will be susceptible to legal challenge.

 

•  Amendment 60 requires government enterprises to pay property tax and requires local governments to reduce their mill levies to offset the increased tax revenue.

 

o  The Persigo Wastewater Treatment Plant and the City’s Water Plant are examples of enterprises that would have to pay. The increased expense is estimated to be between $1,700,000 and $2,500,000. The cost of paying the taxes would cause a significant increase in the water and wastewater rates users pay.

 

o  Amendment 60 could require the City to pay property tax on the Two Rivers Convention Center, Lincoln Park Pool, Lincoln Park Golf Course, Orchard Mesa Pool and Tiara Rado Golf Course. How such properties would be assessed and how much the users of those facilities would have to pay to offset the new tax is unclear.

 

•  Amendment 60 prohibits government enterprises from levying a tax or fee on property.

 

•  Amendment 60 makes the extension of an expiring tax a tax increase and sets expiration dates on voter-approved taxes.

 

The City Council, after due and careful consideration has determined that the passage of Amendment 60 will cause significant negative impact to the operations of the City and its ability to provide public services.

The City understands that its citizens desire and deserve accountability for how taxes are collected and spent. Amendment 60 does not ensure those results.

 

The passage of Amendment 60 will not solve the problems in Denver or Washington D.C. While those problems are real, they are vitally important and they must be solved, Amendment 60 if enacted will severely disrupt the ability of local government to provide necessary services.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Council of the City of Grand Junction does hereby oppose Amendment 60 and urges the defeat of such measure for the reasons stated.

 

Further, the City Council urges all City voters to consider the severe impacts Amendment 60 will have on the City’s ability to provide for the needs of the citizens.

 

Dated this 13th day of September 2010.

 

 

               /s/: Teresa Coons
               President of the Council

ATTEST:

 

 

/s/: Stephanie Tuin
City Clerk