Ballots for the April 7th 2009 Colorado Springs Municipal Election go out in the mail tomorrow. No, it’s not going to get the attention of last November’s election or even the primary, but it absolutely impacts the way your tax dollars are spent and influences the future of Colorado Springs. I’m planning on watching the forum at Carnegie Library tomorrow to hear from the candidates for city council and proponents and opponents of each ballot measure.
You can watch tomorrow’s forum live online at KOAA and Gazette.com, and if you have a question for the candidates or about the ballot measures, email them now to news@koaa.com.
Here’s a look at the measures and candidates on the ballot:
ISSUE 1A – JOBS
“Without raising additional taxes, shall the existing .665 general property mill levy tax be extended from its current expiration of December 31, 2009 through December 31, 2025 to be used exclusively to create, attract and retain primary jobs, market and promote Colorado Springs, require City Council to create and appoint a five person Job Opportunity and Business Sustainability Committee with no more than two members of City Council appointed thereto, to make recommendations to City Council pertaining to the expenditure and use of such revenue, with all revenues and expenditures constituting a voter-approved revenue change?”
ISSUE 1B – REVENUE RETENTION FOR ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES
“Shall the City of Colorado Springs be permitted to expend up to $1,200,000 to provide essential City services, this amount being the estimated 2008 revenue above the 2008 fiscal year spending limitation mandated by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, otherwise known as ‘TABOR’ (Colorado Constitution, Article X, Section 20 and City Charter, Article VII, Section 7-90), and constituting a voter-approved revenue change?”
ISSUE 1C – EXPANSION OF TOPS MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES
“Shall the existing 0.1% (one-tenth of a cent) City sales and use tax for Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) be amended to allow no more than fifteen percent (15%) of the revenue from the tax and interest earnings of the TOPS fund to be used for stewardship and maintenance of all City-owned trails, open space and parks for a period of five years, from May 1, 2009 through April 30, 2014, only, with a change to biennial independent audit requirements, and no other changes to the TOPS program as authorized in previous elections?”
ISSUE 1D – FEDERAL GRANTS AND FEDERAL FUNDS
“Shall the City of Colorado Springs benefit from the receipt of federal grants and federal funds to assist the Colorado Springs Airport and the City’s other enterprises compete for those federal funds, by replacing the definition of ‘Enterprise’ in the Charter of the City of Colorado Springs, Article VII, Section 7-90, with the same definition of ‘Enterprise’ as found in Colorado Constitution, Article X, Section 20, as amended?”
And here are the candidates running for city council. View the district map to find out what district you’re in.
DISTRICT ONE
Northwest Colorado Springs
Scott Hente (719.599.3770 or slamhente@comcast.net)
– uncontested –
DISTRICT TWO
Northeast Colorado Springs
Darryl Glen (719.271.6690 or www.darrylglennforcitycouncil.com)
– uncontested –
DISTRICT THREE
Southwest Colorado Springs
Jerry Heimlicher (719.540.5443 or www.jerryheimlicher.com)
– versus –
Dave Gardner (719.576.5665 or www.dave4council.com)
DISTRICT FOUR
Southeast Colorado Springs
Bernie Herpin (719.576.3921 or www.bernie4council.com)
– versus –
Tony Carpenter (719.597.0171 or www.tonycarpenter.net)
Look for your ballot in the mail soon!