By now, the State and City voting booklets that explain the issues and measures are out to voters. We urge all to read the measures and issues, especially those for Denver. Please vote! It matters! Click on Title to read more.
Comments about Denver Measures
Measure 2F
Some may recall that WDCA stood against Group Living Amendment Changes (GLAC) and sent our opposition (more than once) to City Council who voted to approve these changes. WDCA opposed the GLAC because all was poorly written and presentations were misleading; documents were difficult to interpret, content had multiple loopholes that could hurt homeowners in the future and because GLAC permits uses in residential neighborhoods that could negatively impact home values.
Since then, an independent citizen group (Safe & Sound) was able to obtain almost 20,000 signatures (9,000 needed) to support placing a measure on the November ballot to permit public voting to repeal these amendments.
Measure 2F- If you vote “yes”- it is a vote to repeal GLAC that Council voted in; if you vote “no” – it is a vote to retain the changes as they exist today.
Measures 2A-2E
All measures contain a clause: “…and shall City ad valorem property taxes be increased without limitations as to rate but by not more than a maximum amount of $X ANNUALLY in amounts sufficient to pay the principal of, premium and interest”.
This means any measure voted in gives permission to increase property taxes to repay the city debt; though generally understood to increase only if bond initiatives do not cover the costs, it reads AND SHALL, so it is a crap shoot. Each measure also cites a “maximum repayment cost” equal to 1.72% – who earns the 72%?
- By the way, 2E adds more money to develop the National Western Complex which was already approved by a ballot initiative in 2015
| Measure | BOND AMOUNT | CAP PAYOFF | INCREASED $$ Payoff Amount | % INT PAID | Annual potential tax rate to homeowners to pay principal |
| 2A Cultural Arts Facilities | 104,040,000 | 179,17,5000 | 75,135,000 | 72% | 19,250,000 |
| 2B Shelters for homeless | 38,600,000 | 66,476,000 | 27,876000 | 72% | 8,945,000 |
| 2C Walkways, bike paths | 63,320,000 | 109,048,000 | 45,728,000 | 72% | 11,716,000 |
| 2D Parks | 54,070,000 | 93,118,000 | 39,048,000 | 72% | 10,005,000 |
| 2E National Western Arena | 190,000,000 | 327,212,000 | 137,212,000 | 72% | 35,155,000 |
| 450,030,000 | 775,029,000 | 324,999,000 | 72% | 85,071,000 |