Outcome:

Ballot Language

Shall Article X, Sections 1(d) and (e) of the City Charter be amended to conform to the requirements of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, so that any citizen initiated measure that requires voter approval in advance under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution would have to be submitted to a vote of the registered electors of the City as required by said constitutional provision?

Outcome:

Ballot Issue

SHALL THERE BE AN EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING CITY OF FORT COLLINS 0.25% SALES AND USE TAX FOR TRAIL SYSTEMS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, NATURAL AREAS AND CERTAIN PARK PROJECTS, WHICH WAS AUTHORIZED BY VOTER-APPROVED ORDINANCE NO. 29, 1997, AND WHICH IS PRESENTLY SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 31, 2005, WITH SUCH TAX TO BE EXTENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2030, AND WITH ALL REVENUE GENERATED BY SUCH TAX AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2005, TO BE USED TO ACQUIRE, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN OPEN SPACES, COMMUNITY SEPARATORS, NATURAL AREAS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, RIPARIAN AREAS, WETLANDS AND VALUED AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPROPRIATE USE AND ENJOYMENT OF THESE AREAS BY THE CITIZENRY, THROUGH LAND CONSERVATION PROJECTS TO BE UNDERTAKEN WHERE THERE IS AN IDENTIFIABLE BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, AS DETERMINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, EITHER WITHIN THE CITY OR ITS GROWTH MANAGEMENT AREA OR REGIONALLY, PROVIDED THAT:

• NOT LESS THAN 80% OF THE TOTAL ANNUAL REVENUE GENERATED BY THE TAX WOULD BE USED SOLELY FOR "LAND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES"; AND
• NOT MORE THAN 20% OF SUCH TOTAL ANNUAL REVENUE WOULD BE USED FOR "OPERATIONS ACTIVITIES" AND "MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES" RELATED TO THOSE LAND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES;

AND FURTHER PROVIDED THAT ALL SUCH LAND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY AGREEMENT WITH WILLING SELLERS; AND THAT THE FULL AMOUNT OF REVENUES DERIVED FROM SUCH EXTENDED TAX, AND ANY INVESTMENT EARNINGS THEREON, MAY BE COLLECTED AND EXPENDED BY THE CITY, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY STATE REVENUE OR EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE CONTAINED IN ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION, ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE NO. 1, 2002?

Full text of the Ordinance

Outcome:

Ballot Language

SHALL CITY OF FORT COLLINS TAXES BE INCREASED BY AN ESTIMATED $9.1 MILLION FOR THE FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS AS MAY BE GENERATED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY:

• AN INCREASE IN THE RATE OF SALES AND USE TAXES OF 0.25 PERCENT (25¢ ON A $100 PURCHASE), TO BE IMPOSED ON ALL TAXABLE ITEMS EXCEPT FOOD, TO COMMENCE JANUARY 1, 2003, AND TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 31, 2022; AND
• THE IMPOSITION OF AN EXCISE TAX UPON THE ISSUANCE OF BUILDING PERMITS FOR ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY EXCEPT FOR RESIDENTIAL REMODELING PROJECTS THAT DO NOT CREATE ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNITS AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL REMODELING PROJECTS THAT DO NOT ADD SQUARE FOOTAGE, AND EXCEPT FOR QUALIFIED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, AT THE RATE OF ONE PERCENT (1.00%) OF THE COST OF SUCH CONSTRUCTION OR RECONSTRUCTION, TO COMMENCE APRIL 1, 2003, AND TO EXPIRE MARCH 31, 2023

WITH THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH NEW TAXES, TOGETHER WITH INVESTMENT EARNINGS THEREON, TO BE USED TO PAY FOR THE PLANNING, DESIGN, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN TRANSPORTATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, TO BE DESIGNATED BY THE CITY COUNCIL NO LESS THAN ONCE EVERY FOUR (4) YEARS AS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS SHOWN ON A TWENTY (20) YEAR TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN, WITH THE FIRST PROJECTS SO DESIGNATED TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:

• THE WIDENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF TIMBERLINE ROAD FROM DRAKE ROAD TO PROSPECT ROAD;
• THE IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION OF THE MASON STREET TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR;
• AN OVERPASS OR UNDERPASS AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO LEMAY AVENUE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF VINE DRIVE;
• OTHER INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY;

WITH EACH SUCH PROJECT TO BE CONTINGENT UPON THE AVAILABILITY OF SUFFICIENT LOCAL, STATE AND/OR FEDERAL FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AND WITH THE SCOPE, COST AND SCHEDULING OF EACH PROJECT TO BE DETERMINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL; AND SHALL THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT AND EXPEND ALL OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH TAX INCREASES AND INVESTMENT EARNINGS THEREON, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY APPLICABLE LIMITATION ON REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, INCLUDING THE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION?