El Paso County Board of County Commissioners takes stance on several November general election items

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A measure for an additional sales and use tax for the Front Range Passenger Rail is among the measures opposed by the El Paso County Board of Commissioners.

The board released its position today on 15 measures ahead of the November general election. 14 of those are statewide. The other is Ballot Issue 7A, which only appears for voters within the Front Range Passenger Rail District.

The board opposes that measure, which is a proposed additional sales and use tax for the passenger rail. They cite long-term costs and a concern that county residents would have to pay into the system for 10 years before the train service could begin.

The Ballot Issue 7A campaign says the timeline for delivering trains is only five years, not 10 like the county's resolution says.

The board also opposes Amendment 87, which would replace Colorado's flat income tax with graduated rates. The board says they support Proposition 136 instead, which would limit any further increases in the state's individual income tax rate.

Propositions 132 and 133, along with Amendment 71 are supported by the board as ways to enhance public safety and cooperation with law enforcement, according to the board.

They also support Propositions 134 and 135 to "preserve fairness in school and collegiate athletics and protect children by establishing restrictions on certain surgical procedures performed on minors."

Amendments 84, 85 and 86 are also supported by the board. They say these changes will strengthen voter identification requirements and clarify ballot language, as well as create more requirements for off-cycle congressional redistricting.

The last two measures the board says it supports are Amendments 82 and 83, which they say would create a constitutional protection connected to the "lawful purchase and sale of natural gas and the right to hunt and fish in Colorado."

The other two measures they oppose are Proposition 137 and Proposition NN, saying both measures would "erode TABOR's taxpayer protections and refund requirements."

The following measures are supported by the board:

• Proposition 132
• Proposition 133
• Proposition 134
• Proposition 135
• Proposition 136
• Amendment 81
• Amendment 82
• Amendment 83
• Amendment 84
• Amendment 85
• Amendment 86

The board opposes the following measures:

• Amendment 87
• Proposition 137
• Proposition NN
• Ballot Issue 7A

The Board of County Commissioners' full resolution can be found here.

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