Colorado Springs ballot measures: What to know about 2A, 2B, and 2C
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs voters will decide on three city ballot measures pertaining to the city's revenue restrictions and whether or not voters should have a say in land exchanges.
Measure 2A would allow Colorado Springs to use its 2019 revenue base going forward, as opposed to its 2020 revenue base. Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers explains the city needs permission to do this because of rules outlined in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, also known as TABOR.
"When the city has a loss in revenue from one year to the next, their revenue base ratchets down to that new, lower level, and can only grow from there under by the allowed formula under TABOR," Suthers said.
Suthers predicts it will take the city up to four years to make up financial losses from COVID-19 if voters do not approve 2A.
“For example, in 2008, when we ratcheted down in the major recession, it took us about five years to get where we were back in 2007," Suthers said. "We anticipate this time it would take us three or four years to get back."
Suthers thinks the city can recover in about half that time if 2A is passed.
Another aspect of 2A would give the city permission to use $1.9 million earned in 2019 for police and fire department improvements. Mark Murphy already voted. He says this portion of 2A is part of the reason it got his vote.
"I think it was going toward law enforcement and first responders, which I definitely think we should support," Murphy said.
But this component of the resolution could be controversial, as some people continue to call for CSPD to be defunded. You can read the full resolution text here.
Questions 2B and 2C are also up for a vote in Colorado Springs. The measures will decide how the city handles park land exchanges, following the controversial Strawberry Fields land swap in 2016.
Measure 2B would require a city council vote of at least seven to send the issue to a public vote.
“If they’re going to sell the land or use it or use it for another use, I really think we should be able to have a voice in that," Murphy said.
Measure 2C would stop one step short of that, requiring a city council super majority vote only to approve a land exchange. The mayor favors 2C.
“There’s a lot of people who would like to donate land to the city...a lot of land for a small amount of land...who are going to say, 'No I don’t want to sit around and wait for a vote of the people,'” Suthers said.
You can read the full resolution text for 2B and 2C and read through a sample ballot.
