On Aug. 16, the Parker Town Council passed the following resolution opposing three ballot measures on the November ballot. Proposition 101 and Amendments 60 and 61 will be on the ballot for the Nov. 2, 2010 election.
RESOLUTION NO. 10-061, Series of 2010
TITLE: A RESOLUTION OPPOSING PROPOSITION 101 AND AMENDMENTS 60 AND 61
WHEREAS, the Town of Parker is a legislative body authorized to adopt resolutions in support of or opposition to state and federal legislation;
WHEREAS, Colorado voters will have the opportunity at the November 2, 2010, statewide general election to protect the fiscal health of local government by defeating Proposition 101, Amendment 60 and Amendment 61;
WHEREAS, Proposition 101, Amendment 60 and Amendment 61 are citizen initiatives to amend the State Constitution and statutes, and these measures individually and collectively significantly reduce or otherwise restrict both state and local revenues in a number of different ways, including, but not limited to, specific ownership taxes, telecommunication taxes, state income taxes, state-shared revenues to assist municipalities with local street and transit improvements, other state grants and loans to help local government, and property taxes;
WHEREAS, services and programs in the Town of Parker will be limited or curtailed because of the numerous restrictions and revenue reductions proposed by these three measures, including services and programs such as public safety, public works, cultural, recreation and capital improvements;
WHEREAS, Proposition 101 reduces the vehicle registration fee (annual license plate fee) to a level which would devastate Colorado’s ability to maintain safe roads and bridges by lowering the fee to an assessment rate similar to the year 1919;
WHEREAS, Amendment 60 would slash at least $1 billion annually in funding for schools; school districts would have to cut school tax revenues in half;
WHEREAS, the ability to finance long-term capital improvements, such as roads and bridges, recreational projects, and other public facilities are dramatically impaired by the restrictions on debt financing as proposed by Amendment 61;
WHEREAS, the cumulative and destructive nature of the three measures ensures that Colorado will surrender its competitive standing to attract large and small employers alike, resulting in little to no economic growth for the state, a steady decline in property values and an erosion of the state and local tax base;
WHEREAS, during this current economic downturn, the Town of Parker has already cut services and budgets dramatically, such as street maintenance, street and park capital improvements, and replacement of aging equipment;
WHEREAS, the Town of Parker is concerned about the impact these three measures will have on our ability to work effectively with other local governments in the form of intergovernmental agreements; and
WHEREAS, a number of prominent individuals, newspapers and organizations, including our own Colorado Municipal League are voicing opposition to these measures as not being in the best interests of Colorado and of local communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF PARKER, COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Town Council of the Town of Parker opposes Proposition 101, Amendment 60 and Amendment 61, and urges our citizens to vote against all three ballot measures.
RESOLVED AND PASSED this _____ day of ________________________, 2010.
TOWN OF PARKER, COLORADO
___________________________________
David Casiano, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Carol Baumgartner, Town Clerk
Details on the resolution can be found in the Agenda Memo (see link) provided to Town Council as part of the Aug. 16 agenda for Resolution No. 10-061, Series of 2010.