Pueblo County
GILBERT ORTIZ
COUNTY CLERK AND RECORDER
720 N. MAIN STREET, SUITE 200
PUEBLO, CO 81003-3020
COORDINATED ELECTION
TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2015
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This Election will be a Mail Ballot Election.
There will be one (1) Voter Service and Polling Center.
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This is a Composite of All Ballot Issues for this Election. Please Refer to Your Official Ballot for a Listing of Ballot Issues on Which You Are Entitled to Vote.
ALL REGISTERED VOTERS
NOTICE OF ELECTION
TO INCREASE TAXES/TO INCREASE DEBT
ON A CITIZEN PETITION/ON
A REFERRED MEASURE
THIS PAMPHLET CONTAINS BALLOT ISSUE NOTICES AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF COLORADO CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE X, SECTION 20.
A ‘YES’ VOTE ON ANY BALLOT ISSUE IS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF CHANGING CURRENT LAW OR EXISTING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND A ‘NO’ VOTE ON ANY BALLOT ISSUE IS A VOTE AGAINST CHANGING CURRENT LAW OR EXISTING CIRCUMSTANCE.
A Publication of Pueblo County
October 2015
PUEBLO COUNTY CLERK AND RECORDER
720 N Main Street, Suite 200
Pueblo, CO 81003
Phone (719) 583-6620
http://Pueblovotes.com
All eligible, registered voters will receive a ballot in the mail.
VOTER SERVICE AND POLLING CENTER
Pueblo County Election Department
720 N. Main Street, Suite 200
Pueblo, CO 81003
10/13/15 – 11/02/15 (Mon.-Fri.) 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,
10/31/15 (Sat.) 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
ELECTION DAY 11/03/15 (Tue.) 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
24 HOUR DROP-OFF LOCATION
Pueblo County Election Department
720 N. Main Street
Located in back of the building
Pueblo, CO 81003
10/12/15 – 11/02/15 (Sun.-Sat.) 24 HOURS
ELECTION DAY 11/03/15 (Tue.) up to 7:00 p.m.
BALLOT DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
Pueblo County Courthouse
215 W. 10th St.
Pueblo, CO 81003
10/14/15 – 11/02/15 (Mon. – Fri.) 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
10/31/15 - (Sat.) 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Pueblo West Library
298 S. Joe Martinez Blvd.
Pueblo, CO 81007
10/26/15 – 11/02/15 (Mon.-Fri.), 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
10/31/15 - (Sat.) 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Lamb Branch Library
2525 S. Pueblo Blvd
Pueblo, CO 81005
10/26/15 – 11/02/15 (Mon. - Fri.) 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
10/31/15 - (Sat.) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tom L. & Anna Marie Giodone Library
24655 U.S. Highway 50 E.
Pueblo, CO 81006
10/30/15 - 11/02/15 (Mon. & Fri.) 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
10/31/15 - (Sat.) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Colorado City Metro District
4497 Bent Brothers Blvd.
Colorado City, CO 81019
10/30/15 - 11/02/15 (Mon. & Fri.) 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
10/31/15 - (Sat.) 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
ALL LOCATIONS
ELECTION DAY 11/03/15 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
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PUEBLO COUNTY BALLOT ISSUES
ALL REGISTERED VOTERS
Election By Mail
Deadline for receipt of ballots: November 3, 2015 7:00 p.m.
Local Election Office Address and Telephone Number:
Pueblo County Election Department
720 N. Main St., Ste. 200
Pueblo, CO 81003
Telephone: (719)583-6620
Notice of Election to Increase Taxes
on a Referred Measure
Pueblo County
Pueblo County, Colorado
BALLOT ISSUE NO. 1A:
SHALL PUEBLO COUNTY TAXES BE INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY $18,000,000.00 ANNUALLY (FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR DOLLAR INCREASE STARTING IN 2016) TO DIRECTLY FUND THE URGENT PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY PUEBLO COUNTY SHERIFF KIRK M. TAYLOR, THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL SERVING ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITIES, TOWNS AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF PUEBLO COUNTY, AS CRITICAL TO PERFORMING HIS STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS TO ALL PUEBLO COUNTY RESIDENTS, BY INCREASING THE COUNTY’S SALES AND USE TAX RATE BY ONE CENT ($0.01) PER DOLLAR; WHICH NEEDS ARE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE AREAS OF PATROL, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, DETENTION FACILITY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES WITH ALL REVENUES GENERATED TO BE RESTRICTED TO THE FOLLOWING AND USED FOR NO OTHER PURPOSE:
1. PATROL NEEDS: HIRE, EMPLOY, FUND SALARIES, TRAIN AND EQUIP PATROL DEPUTIES, INVESTIGATORS AND CIVILIAN SUPPORT STAFF ACCORDING TO CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE WITHIN THE STATE OF COLORADO; CONDUCT FIRE AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS; REPLACE OBSOLETE AND FAILING EQUIPMENT, PURCHASE AMMUNITION, FUEL AND OTHER OPERATIONAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT; AND
2. CRIMINAL JUSTICE NEEDS: HIRE, EMPLOY, FUND SALARIES, TRAIN AND EQUIP DETENTION DEPUTIES, COURT TRANSPORT PERSONNEL AND CIVILIAN SUPPORT STAFF ACCORDING TO CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE WITHIN THE STATE OF COLORADO; CONDUCT CRIMINAL EXTRADITION; REPLACE OBSOLETE AND ACQUIRE NEW EQUIPMENT TO ADDRESS SECURITY, SAFETY, AND OPERATIONS; AND
3. DETENTION FACILITY NEEDS: REVIEW AND ASSESS NEEDS, DESIGN, ACQUIRE, CONSTRUCT, FUND TRANSITION COSTS, REPURPOSE, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN DETENTION FACILITIES; AND
4. EMERGENCY SERVICES NEEDS: HIRE, EMPLOY, FUND SALARIES, TRAIN AND EQUIP EMERGENCY SERVICES BUREAU DEPUTIES AND CIVILIAN SUPPORT STAFF ACCORDING TO CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE WITHIN THE STATE OF COLORADO IN THE AREA OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT; REPLACE OBSOLETE AND ACQUIRE NEW EQUIPMENT;
WITH THE SHERIFF REQUIRED TO REPORT ANNUALLY TO THE CITIZENS OF PUEBLO COUNTY ALL REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES RESULTING FROM SUCH TAX INCREASE; AND A CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO REVIEW ALL REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES RESULTING FROM SUCH TAX INCREASE; COMMENCING ON JANUARY 1, 2016 AND AUTOMATICALLY ENDING ON DECEMBER 31, 2025 (TEN YEAR SUNSET PROVISION), AND SHALL THE COUNTY BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT, RETAIN AND SPEND THE FULL REVENUES FROM SUCH TAX WITHOUT STATUTORY OR CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATION OR CONDITION, INCLUDING ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION, SECTION 29-1-301, COLORADO REVISED STATUTES, OR ANY OTHER LAW?
Pueblo County, Colorado Actual Historical and Current Estimated Fiscal Year Spending Information:
Year Fiscal Year Spending[1]
2011 (actual) $78,679,605
2012 (actual) $78,569,213
2013 (actual) $79,698,800
2014 (actual) $83,472,964
2015 (current year estimated) $85,234,969
2016 (estimated) $87,792,018
Overall percentage change in fiscal year
spending over the five year period from 2011
through 2015: 8.3%
Overall dollar change in fiscal year
spending over the five year period from
2011 through 2015: $6,555,364
Estimated 2016 fiscal year spending
without taking into account the tax
increase authorized by the ballot issue: $87,792,018
Estimated 2016 tax increase
authorized by Ballot Issue 1A: $18,000,000
Summary of Written Comments FOR Ballot Issue No. 1A:
This community needs a sales tax to replace the jail, allow the purchase of equipment and to allow the sheriff's office to compete for employees and repurpose the current dormitory into a detoxification center. The sheriff serves all constituents in the County of Pueblo including the incorporated (city) and un-incorporated (county).
The sales tax will hold the sheriff's budget to no more than that budgeted in 2015 for 10 years. All other functions of the office of sheriff above the budget allocated in 2015 will come from revenue generated through the sales tax.
One penny is closest to actual costs; the aggregate amount of money collected will pay for the planning, building and paying off the new jail within the allotted 10 year time frame. This money will be identified by the sheriff for use only on the projects listed specifically in the ballot.
Re-purposing the existing dormitories into a social detoxification center, to allow for new city arrests, bring back work release and inmate labor programs to areas of non-profit organizations.
It is estimated that up to 80% of the tax will be needed over ten years to buy, design, build, and staff the new jail. This tax automatically sunsets in ten years with no other action to make it go away.
A citizen's advisory committee will be appointed by the sheriff and board of county commissioners to report on incoming revenues and expenditures and to report to the citizens of Pueblo. Annually, the sheriff has three areas of influence in the office known commonly as bureaus for response directly to the citizens. The law enforcement bureau, the detentions bureau and the emergency services bureau. The sheriff is responsible for law enforcement in the unincorporated county, the orderly operation of the county jail which houses people on the aggregate that have addresses in the city of Pueblo and the sheriff is the emergency manager for the entire county. Services that include paper service (restraining orders, divorce papers, evictions and all other forms of civil service) search and rescue, inmate programs and law enforcement investigations and arrests.
The sheriff answers directly to the people of Pueblo and he declares that the county jail is unsafe due to overcrowding and jail is more costly to maintain than the cost of building a new jail. This is supported by the assessment completed in December 2014 and common sense. The sheriff states that he has tried all other avenues to repair the jail, reduce the population and otherwise gain more years from this jail. He did receive grants and used money found never before used to make repairs that were essential to security for the inmates and citizens of Pueblo. The sheriff indicates that it is an emergency to replace this jail and equipment used by deputies and the smallest part of the tax would help to make his deputies compensation compete appropriately in the market to keep valuable employees.
Summary of Written Comments AGAINST Ballot Issue No. 1A:
No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline.
COLORADO NOTICE OF ELECTION FOR REVENUE CHANGE ON A REFERRED MEASURE
BALLOT ISSUE NO. 1B:
SHALL PUEBLO COUNTY TAXES BE INCREASED BY $3,500,000.00 (FINAL PHASED IN FULL FISCAL YEAR DOLLAR INCREASE) ANNUALLY AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS AS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY IMPOSING AN EXCISE TAX OF FIVE PERCENT (5%) ON THE FIRST SALE OR TRANSFER OF UNPROCESSED RETAIL MARIJUANA BY A RETAIL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY WITH THE RATE TO BE PHASED IN BY STARTING AT ONE PERCENT (1%) IN 2016 AND INCREASING TO TWO PERCENT (2%) IN 2017, THREE PERCENT (3%) IN 2018, FOUR PERCENT (4%) IN 2019, AND FIVE PERCENT (5%) IN 2020 WITH THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVING THE AUTHORITY TO INCREASE OR DECREASE THE RATE BEGINNING IN 2020 SO LONG AS THE MAXIMUM RATE IN NO CASE EXCEEDS FIVE PERCENT (5%) AND WITH, STARTING IN 2017, AT LEAST HALF OF SUCH REVENUE TO BE SPENT ON SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RESIDENTS OF PUEBLO COUNTY TO ATTEND COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND WITH REMAINING PORTIONS TO BE SPENT FIRST TO REFURBISH THE COLORADO STATE FAIR GROUNDS STREETSCAPE, TO BUILD SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL FOR NORTH MESA, SOUTH MESA, AND DESERT SAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND TO DEVELOP A TRAIL MASTER PLAN, TO FUND A RESEARCH GRANT FOR THE STUDY OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA, TO FUND A MARIJUANA COMMUNITY IMPACT, TO FUND
A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON EXTENDING AMTRAK’S SOUTHWEST CHIEF TO PUEBLO AND OTHER PASSENGER RAIL EXPENDITURES, TO REFURBISH THE DOME AT THE HISTORIC PUEBLO COUNTY COURTHOUSE, TO BUILD AN OUTDOOR RECREATION PAVILION AT CONFLUENCE PARK, TO FUND A U.S. HIGHWAY 50 ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, TO FUND LONG TERM PLANNING STUDIES AND CONSTRUCT AN ATRIUM FOR THE ARTS CENTER, TO REPLACE GOLF CARTS AND EXPAND THE CLUBHOUSE AT DESERT HAWK GOLF COURSE, TO ENHANCE THE PLAYGROUND AT BEULAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, TO REPAIR PUEBLO RESERVOIR BIKE AND HIKING TRAILS AND IMPROVE TRAIL SIGNS, TO ESTABLISH A PUEBLO COUNTY ENERGY EFFICIENCY DEPARTMENT, TO INSTALL RENEWABLE ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS ON COUNTY PROPERTY, AND TO STUDY THE ZINNO SUBDIVISION’S WATER SUPPLY NEEDS AND PURSUE POSSIBLE RELATED IMPROVEMENTS, AND SUCH PORTIONS TO BE SPENT THEREAFTER ON OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF EXISTING PROJECTS, AND SHALL PUEBLO COUNTY BE ENTITLED TO COLLECT, RETAIN, AND SPEND THE FULL REVENUES FROM SUCH TAX INCREASE WITHOUT STATUTORY OR CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATION OR CONDITION, INCLUDING ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW?
Pueblo County, Colorado Actual Historical and Current Estimated Fiscal Year Spending Information:
Year Fiscal Year Spending[2]
2011 (actual) $78,679,605
2012 (actual) $78,569,213
2013 (actual) $79,698,800
2014 (actual) $83,472,964
2015 (current year estimated) $85,234,969
2016 (estimated) $87,792,018
Overall percentage change in fiscal year
spending over the five year period from
2011 through 2015: 8.3%
Overall dollar change in fiscal year spending
over the five year period from
2011 through 2015: $6,555,364
Estimated 2016 fiscal year spending
without taking into account the tax
increase authorized by the ballot issue: $87,792,018
Estimated 2016 tax increase authorized
by Ballot Issue 1B: $3,500,000[3]
Summary of Written Comments FOR Ballot Issue No. 1B:
Retail marijuana grow houses are allowed in Pueblo County, so we might as well benefit from it. Measure 1B would levy an excise tax on these grow houses. When Colorado voters approved the legalization of marijuana, the tax revenues were to go towards education, and that’s exactly what this measure does. Any student who graduates from a high school in the City or County of Pueblo is eligible to receive a scholarship to attend local colleges, including Colorado State University – Pueblo or Pueblo Community College. The revenues are also dedicated to funding 15 additional Pueblo County improvement projects from parks to sidewalks near schools to the State Fair to trails at Lake Pueblo, and the revenues are locked in to these programs so that politicians can’t change how the money is used. If 1B does not pass, Pueblo County will not receive any special tax revenue from marijuana grows in our community.
Summary of Written Comments AGAINST Ballot Issue No. 1B:
No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline.
Notice of Election to Retain Excess Revenue
on a Referred Measure
BALLOT ISSUE NO. 1C:
SHALL PUEBLO COUNTY BE PERMITTED TO RETAIN AND EXPEND $148,043 IN EXCESS RETAIL MARIJUANA SALES TAX REVENUE, RESTRICTED ONLY TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS TO REGIONAL PARKS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL CITIZENS IN THE CITIES, TOWNS AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF PUEBLO COUNTY, INCLUDING MCHARG PARK, RUNYON SPORTS COMPLEX, RYE MOUNTAIN PARK, LIBERTY POINT TRAILS, AND JOHN ARELLANO PARK, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT SUCH REVENUE WOULD OTHERWISE BE REFUNDED TO OWNERS OF TAXABLE REAL PROPERTY BY PROVIDING A ONE-TIME $1.48 CREDIT ON PROPERTY TAX STATEMENTS?
Summary of Written Comments FOR Ballot Issue No. 1C:
If ballot issue 1C passes, Pueblo County can retain $148,000 of marijuana retail tax money to be directed to 5 park projects in the County. If it fails, Pueblo County voters will receive an average of $1.48 off their next property tax bill. This situation is occurring because the Taxpayers Bill of Rights requires governments to project how much revenue is collected in the first year of a new tax. Pueblo County underestimated the amount of revenue that would be collected in 2014 by the County's 3.5% sales tax on marijuana. The taxpayers bill of rights requires that money be refunded to those who paid it or allows local governments to retain the amount with the approval of voters.