Huerfano County Clerk & Recorder 401 Main Street, Suite 204 Walsenburg, Colorado 81089 OFFICIAL ELECTION MATERIAL 2016 ELECTION INFORMATION HUERFANO COUNTY FOR ALL REGISTERED VOTERS IN THIS HOUSEHOLD: THIS NOTICE IS MAILED TO EACH ADDRESS WITH ONE OR MORE ACTIVE, REGISTERED ELECTORS. YOU MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ON ALL ISSUES PRESENTED. POSTMASTER, DELIVER TO ALL REGISTERED VOTERS AT: PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE P A I D PERMIT NO. 74 WALSENBURG, CO
GENERAL INFORMATION: TO ALL REGISTERED VOTERS THIS NOTICE IS MAILED TO EACH ADDRESS WITH ONE OR MORE ACTIVE, REGISTERED ELECTORS. RECEIPT OF THIS VOTERS INFORMATION DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT ANY RESIDENT OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS REGISTERED TO VOTE. FURTHER, YOU MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ON ALL ISSUES PRESENTED IN THIS NOTICE. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NOTICE WAS PREPARED BY PERSONS REQUIRED BY LAW TO PROVIDE SUMMARIES OF BALLOT ISSUES AND FISCAL INFORMATION. THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR TRUTH OF ANY OF THE STATEMENTS PRESENTED TO THEM FOR SUMMARY; NOR ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE FOR ERRORS IN SPELLING, GRAMMAR, OR PUNCTUATION OF SUBMITTED STATEMENTS. ALL REGISTERED VOTERS NOTICE OF ELECTION TO INCREASE TAXES / INCREASE DEBT / ON REFERRED MEASURES Election Date: November 8, 2016 Local Election Office: Huerfano County Clerk & Recorder s Office 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday Address: 401 Main Street, Suite 204 Walsenburg, Colorado 81089 Phone: (719) 738-2380 Fax: (719) 738-2060 Type of Election: All Mail Ballot Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC) Hours of VSPC: 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Saturday, October 29, 2016 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Saturday, November 5, 2016 7:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Election Day November 8, 2016 1
CITY OF WALSENBURG Designated Election Official: Wanda Britt, 525 S. Albert, Walsenburg, CO 81089 Telephone: (719) 738-1048 Referred Issue 2B SHALL THE CITY OF WALSENBURG, COLORADO SALES AND USE TAX BE INCREASED ANNUALLY BY APPROXIMATELY $410,000 BY INCREASING THE SALES AND USE TAX BY ONE PERCENT (1.00%) FROM THREE PERCENT (3.00%) TO FOUR PERCENT (4.00%) FOR A FIVE YEAR PERIOD AND RESTRICTING USE OF THE INCREASED REVENUE TO LAW AND CODE ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT, STAFF AND SERVICES; PARKS AND RECREATION EQUIPMENT, PROGRAMS, FACILITIES AND STAFF INCLUDING A RECREATION PROGRAM MANAGER; MUNICIPAL PLANNING SERVICES AND STAFF, INCLUDING A MUNICIPAL PLANNER, TO ASSIST WITH ECONOMIC, COMMUNITY AND DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT; AND FOR STREET MAINTENANCE STAFF, EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS AND MAINTENANCE. PRO YES on 2B Fiscal Impact: A one cent sales tax in Walsenburg will generate approximately $410,000 at the current collection rates. The estimated total fiscal year spending in the General Fund for the current year (2016) is $1,400,000. The estimated 2016 spending is one percent less than the spending level in 2012 despite cost inflation that has taken place in the five year period. The fiscal year spending in the general fund for the past four years and the changes between years is as follows shown in dollars and percentages. 2
Most of the City s services are funded by the General Fund building and code enforcement, parks and recreation, law enforcement and animal control, youth programs, streets and drainage, downtown revitalization, planning and economic development. Due to mismanagement in the past, the City s General Fund ran at a significant deficit in 2008 ($1.4 million dollars) and did not recover until one year ago. From 2012 on, the City laid off employees, slashed remaining employee salaries and cut expenses to bare bones levels to help the General Fund recover and finally in 2016, it appears the City will end the year with the General Fund in the black. Walsenburg is still operating at those slashed levels in its General Fund services and this has further hampered its ability to clean up the City and get the economy going. A yes vote for 2A will allow the City to invest in a higher level of streets and parks maintenance, replace old and unsafe equipment, tear down condemned and unsafe buildings (with property liens so the property owners are forced reimburse the city), make public improvements to our downtown to help stimulate business and grow the economy, hire someone to work directly with new and expanding businesses to create more jobs and more revenue, and restore the police department to 2 officers per shift day and night. The City now has the professional staff and know-how to move things forward without unnecessary or inappropriate spending of the past. Sales tax is mostly paid for by out of town residents. The cost to residents would be insignificant and residents would get 100% of the benefits. We can use the money to increase tourism and business thus increase the sales tax revenue not only in this area but 2/3s of our existing 3 cent sales tax is restricted to street improvements and capital improvements. Utility funds are in separate business type accounts and the utility fees and revenues from those funds can t go to General Fund activities. CON NO on 2B The City is already collecting 3 cents in sales tax, we don t need another tax. The City should live within its means and not continue to saddle the residents and visitors with the cost of government. It seems as though the government always wants more money. Before we vote to give the City of Walsenburg another one cent increase in sales tax, we need to examine the impact of increasing taxes. There are two perhaps unintended consequences for raising revenue through a sales tax increase. First is a sales tax is a regressive tax. It impacts our poorest residents the hardest. One percent increase in the cost of what we buy may not be noticeable in the budget of someone who has a middleclass income, but our seniors and others on fixed budgets will notice the cost increase. One percent of a family income of $50,000 is $500. One percent of $25000 is $250. A family with an 3
income of $50,000 will feel the impact of the tax increase much less harshly than the family struggling to make ends meet with a household income of $25,000. We have many families trying to make due with even much less. Second the local businesses may also suffer as the cost of goods will be higher here in Walsenburg than in other nearby communities. People tend to shop where they can get the best value for their money. Our local business economy already has challenges to overcome. This tax increase is just one more challenge. Those with more money to spend can travel to other communities with a lower sales tax to purchase what they need. Our poorest residents often do not have that option. This makes this regressive tax even more unfair for those who can least afford it. If the City needs more money, they should cuts costs and wasteful spending and put the money toward what serves the community best. We don t need the City to become big government. Fiscal Impact: Voting no one 2B will have no fiscal impact on the City of Walsenburg. HUERFANO SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-1 Designated Election Official: Melinda Ruzanski, 201 East 5 th Street, Walsenburg, CO 81089 Telephone: (719) 738-1520 Referred Issue 3A SHALL HUERFANO RE-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED $322, 000 ANNUALLY AND THEREAFTER BY THE AMOUNTS RAISED ANNUALLY FOR A LIMITED 5-YEAR PERIOD (COMMENCING IN COLLECTION YEAR 2017 AND ENDING AFTER COLLECTION YEAR 2021) FROM AN OVERRIDE MILL LEVY IMPOSED AT THE RATE OF 3.5 MILLS AS DETERMINED ANNUALLY BY THE DISTRICT S GOVERNING BOARD, THE REVENUES FROM WHICH SHALL BE USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES TO INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: REPLACING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, OUTDATED TEXTBOOKS AND TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE STUDENT LEARNING ATTRACTING AND RETAINING HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND STAFF FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS MAINTAIN CURRENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND RESTORE PROGRAMS SUSPENDED DUE TO CUTS IN STATE FUNDING INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CAREER AND TECHNICAL 4
PROGRAMS, GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAMS, MUSIC AND ART EDUCATION, COUNSELING PROVIDING PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP TO EXISTING FACILITIES, GROUNDS AND BUS FLEET PROVIDED THAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT RAISED FROM THE OVERRIDE MILL LEVY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT PERMITTED UNDER C.R.S. 22-54-108, WITH SUCH TAX INCREASE TO BE IN ADDITION TO THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE LEVIED FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND TO CONSTITUTE A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE LIMITS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY? Total District Fiscal Year Spending Fiscal Year 2016-2017 (estimated) $ 4,804,100 2015-2016 (estimated actual) $ 4,673,740 2014-2015 (actual) $ 4,838,051 2013-2014 (actual) $ 4,504,457 2012-2013 (actual) $ 5,164,329 Overall percentage change from 2012-2013 to 2016-2017: <6.97%> Overall dollar change from 2012-2013 to 2016-2017: $ <360,229> Proposed Tax Increase: District Estimate of the Maximum Dollar Amount of the Proposed Tax Increase for Fiscal Year 2016-2017, the First Full Fiscal Year of the Proposed Tax Increase): $ 322,000 District Estimate of 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Spending without Proposed Tax Increase: $ 4,800,000 Summary of Written Comments FOR Referred Issue No. 3A No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline. Summary of Written Comments AGAINST Referred Issue No. 3A No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline. 5
LA VETA REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT Designated Election Official: Sandra Hackbarth, 310 S. Main, La Veta, CO 81055 Telephone: (719) 742-3572 Referred Issue 5B SHALL PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE LA VETA REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT BE INCREASED $69,986 ANNUALLY IN 2017 (THE FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR) AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS AS MAY BE GENERATED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY AN INCREASE IN THE MILL LEVY TO 5.910 MILLS (AN INCREASE OF 1.994 MILLS) IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE LIBRARY SERVICES, AND SHALL ALL REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES AND THE EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH REVENUES BE COLLECTED, RETAINED AND SPENT AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE LIMITS WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER REVENUE LIMITATION OR RESTRICTION SET FORTH IN THE LAWS OF THE STATE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, C.R.S. SECTION 29-1-302? FISCAL INFORMATION Actual Historical and Current Estimated Fiscal Year Spending Year Fiscal Year Spending 2016 (estimated) $ 201,260 2015 (actual) $ 217,476 2014 (actual) $ 196,472 2013 (actual) $ 191,698 2012 (actual) $ 231,338 Overall percentage change from 2012 to 2016 Overall dollar change from 2012 to 2016 <13.0%> (decrease) <$30,078> (decrease) Proposed District Tax Increase Estimated maximum dollar amount of proposed increase in first $ 69,986 full fiscal year: Estimated first full fiscal year spending without the increase: $193,591 SUMMARY OF WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR ISSUE 5B: The Library has not asked for a funding increase in 15 years, thanks to its hardfought, fiscally responsible management. 6
A 1.994 mill levy increase will enable the Library to once again open its doors for six days per week, including two evenings and a full-day on Saturday. Increased funding will provide the staff necessary to develop a pre-kindergarten literacy preparedness program and to expand current services for older children and teens. The up-to-date, high-speed Wi-Fi access and quality technology support services the community needs and has come to expect require increased funding to update the present five-year-old-plus hardware. The highly successful adult services and programming will be continued, expanded, and diversified. Libraries of the 21st century are much more than just buildings full of books. They contribute to the local economy by assisting job seekers and small businesses. They also provide a link to the outside world for seniors and build community connections through local programs and events. La Veta Regional Library District is committed to serving all residents of the District and maintaining a library that meets the needs of all its patrons. In addition to providing up to date technology, books, and other materials, a YES vote on 4A will allow LVRLD to ensure an adequately staffed library at all times. Knowledgeable and well-trained staff are critical to ensuring the delivery of outstanding services to every library patron. As citizens, we are fortunate to be part of a Library District that has been nationally recognized as a Five-Star Library a designation won by only 1% of the almost 7,700 American public libraries. The Library services that resulted in this designation can no longer be maintained at present funding levels. A District resident owning a home of average value ($125,000) will pay increased taxes of only $1.67/month less than a cup of coffee. SUMMARY OF WRITTEN COMMENTS AGAINST ISSUE 5B: No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline. 7
I, Nancy C. Cruz, Huerfano County Clerk and Recorder, certify that the ballot issue notice is complete as submitted by the political subdivisions. 8