HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-09 Stating Opposition to Proposed Constitutional Amendment 21 Otherwise Known as Initiative 205 or Tax Cut 2000RESOLUTION NO. 9
SERIES 2000
A RESOLUTON OF THE TOWN COUNCIL STATING OPPOSITION TO
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 21 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
INITIATIVE #205 OR "TAX CUT 2000"
WHEREAS, Douglas Bruce, originator of the TABOR Amendment, desires to
further amend the Colorado Constitution by an initiated measure to appear on the
November 7, 2000, state general election ballot designated as Amendment 21 and
commonly known as "Initiative #205 or "Tax Cut 2000;" and
WHEREAS, Amendment 21 would mandate a reduction in certain taxes and fees
by $25.00 in each and every year into perpetuity until the entire tax or fee is
eliminated and abolished. For example, the first year reduction in each tax would be
25.00, the second year reduction in each tax would be $50.00, and the third year
reduction in each tax would be $75.00, etc; and
WHEREAS, Amendment 21 would potentially apply to a broad range of taxes
and fees imposed by governmental and quasi -governmental entities that provide
important and necessary services to residents of the Town of Vail. These entities
include the Town of Vail, Eagle County, Colorado Mountain College, RE50J, the
Minturn Cemetery District, Vail Park and Recreation District, the Eagle River Water
and Sanitation District, the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Upper Eagle,
Valley Regional Water Authority, and Eagle County Health Services; and
WHEREAS, the obvious intent of Amendment 21 is to eliminate and abolish the
taxes that support the services provided by counties, municipalities, and special
districts and the amendment may effectively bankrupt local governments and special
districts; and
WHEREAS, if Amendment 21 is approved by the Colorado voters, the Town of
Vail will likely be forced to curtail, reduce, and potentially eliminate services that
protect the public health and safety that ensure our quality of life; and
WHEREAS, if Amendment 21 is approved by the Colorado voters, other
government and special districts will likely reduce the level of services for law
enforcement, education, fire protection, emergency response, drainage and flood
control, public utilities, street maintenance and repair, and other important and
necessary services enjoyed by the residents of the Town of Vail; and
WHEREAS, sufficient citizen control over governmental revenue and spending
already exists through the voter -approved provisions of the 1991 Taxpayer's Bill of
Rights (TABOR); and
WHEREAS, it is both the obligation and the desire of the Town Council to
communicate its strong opposition to Amendment 21 to the public; and
WHEREAS, the Colorado Fair Campaign Practices Act, at C.R.S. Section
1-45-117(1)(b)(Ili)(A), authorizes the Town's adoption of a resolution and the taking
of a position of advocacy on any issue pending before the electorate.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Town Council of Town of Vail, that
Section 1. The Town Council, on behalf of its citizens, expresses its
strong opposition to Amendment 21, otherwise known as Initiative #205 or Tax Cut
2000, which will be on the November 7, 2000, state general election ballot.
Section 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its
passage.
INTRODUCED, READ, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this
3rd day of
October, 2000.
ATTEST:
l
Ddnaldson, Town Clerk
1:+ L
t 74,
Ludwig Kurz, yor
Eagle County would
be hit especially hard
By Pam Holmes Boyd
Vail Daily Correspondent
As Nov. 7 approaches, a proposal to slash prop-
erty taxes across Colorado has many local govern-
ments concerned, Eagle County included.. • • • •
Amendment 21, also referred to as Tax Cut
2000, would reduce an individual's property taxes
by $25 the first year, and another $25 each subse-
quent year for every county, municipality and spe-
cial district on an individual's property tax. bill.
Additionally, the $25 annual cut would be applied
to income taxes, motor vehicle taxes, sales taxes,
franchise taxes and utility taxes.
Joe Drew, a vice president with the investment
banking firm of Hanifin Imhoff and a member of the
No on Amendment 21" committee, told the Eagle
County commissioners Monday that while the idea
sounds simple, it would have a huge impact in how
Colorado is governed. That impact would be espe-
cially .hard in places such as Eagle County, which
has a proliferation of special districts with small mill
levies.
Drew said entities such as the Cedar Hill Ceme-
tery District in Gypsum would be effectively put out
of business by the amendment, because its proper-
ty tax charges seldom reach the $25 annual mark for
an individual taxpayer. The first year of reimburse-
ment would wipe out the cemetery district's budget.
According to an analysis by the Eagle County
Finance department, it would take longer to put
other governments out of service, but not much. The
Western Eagle County Metropolitan Recreation
District might be able to hold on for a few years. It
would take the Eagle Valley Library District four
years to find its way to a zero income level. Local
fire protection districts, and ambulance districts
would have to struggle by on a fraction of the rev-
enues left to then by Amendment 21, if the initia-
tive nitiativepasses..
If anyone here incurred an 80 percent reduction
in your family's budget, how would you function?"
asked Drew.
As Drew offered his Amendment 21 analysis, he
painteda bleak picture of Colorado's future if the
voters approve the measure.
When I first heard about this amendment, I ini-
tially thought, 'How bad can a $25 cut be?'" said
Drew. He said further review of the proposal con=
vinced him the answer would be "plenty bad,"
Authored by Douglas Bruce,•who spearheaded
the successful passage of the TABOR amendment
pally Fite phOt1
Devon Wright, 8, left, and Cynthia Edgerton, 8, talk: while `finishing;thelr watercolor self-po'r
traits In Tiffany Swan's third-grade classroom. Opponents say Amendtaent 21,":would ;cut
school financing and most other entitles that' depend on property taxes.;, Supporters say thr
state government is required to make up any shortfall.
in 1992, Tax Cut 2000 proponents argue that the . from anyone except Bruce, its author 'But Aincnd
State of Colorado will have to reimburse local gov- - ment 21 does have its supporter in Eagle County`'
ernments for lost revenues. But Drew questioned looal political activist Michael Caciopp9
whether that would actually happen, arguing that Cacioppo.;;demanded equal time to discuss.: tft
the amendment does not mandate such reimburse pros of the "pian He said if theplan did pass, thi
ment. state'. would,have to reimburse local'governmer t
I don't know how the state is going to be reim- for their lost: revenues as a matter of political'real
bursing local governments when their revenue ity. He also Claimed nuisance taxes,,: such as: thu
stream has been dried up," said Drew vehicle ;1,06 ship talc, were, the true target of th
According to .figures piesented by Drew. the
fipilituiye.
State of Colorado would tale a,$ 07 inilli`ttirAt tf ' 4' 'tT'h 'its' ngt `l lie oppd'
first year of the initiative. The second ear Oat state. Drew countered ;that fire measure actually
impact would rise to $225 million and the third means tact relief in the form:of eliminated publi?
year it would top out at $435 million services and reduced health and safety options.
Drew said it would cost local govemiiients $225 "The value of taxation is that; you get sonnet ini
millionin its first year. He said that increases to that you wouldn't be able to afford individual'.
661 million. in the second year snore than $1 said Drew." He believes -that Amendment 21 s+
billion the third year. • would keep Coloradans from affording publrctser
This initiative attacks local gOvemniergs, first vices as a group
of all" Drew continued. •"And when you get info Eagle County has; planned an information
rural cornmunitles Such as up here, you have a lot • stop' regarding Amendinent. 21 on :Wedn'
of special districts "` Sept. 27. The session will tie Held in flue
Drewalso said the amendment has not attraej County Room at the Eagle County Budding being
ed broad-based support, and nounnounced support et.9 a.m. The public is welcome to at'-"i
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