City Council Voices Support for Four November Ballot Measures

Building Boulder Together: Recreation and Safety Bond - City Council voiced support for this ballot measure but amended the ballot language to include a commitment to construct a lap pool as part of the South Boulder Recreation Center proposal. Council will vote again on Aug. 20 to finalize the ballot language.

If passed, this ballot measure would pay for the city's backlog of unfunded building maintenance through renovations and replacements. It would allow the city to borrow up to $400 million to finance capital infrastructure projects related to specified city facilities.

The bond is a low-interest loan, which would be repaid through money the city collects through an additional property tax. For example, if the city bonds for the full amount, the owner of a $1 million residential property would pay an additional $400 on their annual property taxes. When the debt is paid in full, the bond retires and the additional property tax ends.

The city intends for the bond to fund the following projects: the South Boulder Recreation Center; the North Boulder Recreation Center combined with co-location for West Age Well Center; Fire Stations No. 1 and No. 5; the Public Safety Center and 911 Dispatch; Municipal Services Center; and the Penfield Tate II Municipal Building

Learn more on the city's website and explore the interactive map of Boulder's facilities.

Debt Limit Increase - City Council approved this ballot measure on Aug. 6.

If passed, this ballot measure would change how the city's debt limitation is calculated, allowing the city to issue more debt than is currently permitted. It would update the calculation to be based upon the "actual" value of the property in the city instead of the "assessed" value. A change to "actual" value is consistent with how most municipalities and the state calculate debt limitation.

Vacancy Excise Tax - City Council approved this ballot measure on Aug. 6.

If passed, this ballot measure would result in a tax on vacant residential property. Properties are considered vacant if they are empty for more than half the year (183 days). The cost to property owners would be roughly $4,000 a year for each vacant property. The cost would increase annually with local consumer price indexing but is capped at $7,000.

Charter Change for Right to Bargaining Union Firefighters - City Council approved this ballot measure on Aug. 6.

If passed, this ballot measure would create a charter-guaranteed right for full-time fire department employees to bargain collectively. These rights currently exist in contract, and the right to take disagreements to impasse is currently in a city ordinance.