Editorial Opinion Amendment 60, 61 and Proposistion 101
It’s election time. Phone calls, texts, emails and flyers for candidates and ballot measures are inundating us. Information is inflammatory, exaggerated, or just plain incorrect. So how do you know if you’re voting based on fact or propaganda?
There are three critical pieces of legislation on this November’s ballot, Amendment 60 and 61, and Proposition 101. However you vote on these issues, I urge you to get as much information as possible beforehand.
The three combined measures will save you the taxpayer, money. Property taxes, telecommunication taxes, state income taxes and even your car registration will be lower. The flip side is that K-12 Education, cities, counties and special districts will lose that same revenue. The ballot measures also reduce or restrict state shared revenues to assist cities with street and transit improvements, and even the ability for all these entities to obtain state grants or loans. Financing long-term capital improvements will be drastically impaired by the restrictions on debt financing.
I can speak to the effects the passage of these measures will have on one special district. Central Colorado Water Conservancy District in Greeley provides water storage, water management, conservation, water quality assessments and water education for taxpayers within its’ district boundaries along the South Platte River from Brighton to Greeley to Wiggins. Central also provides replacement water for crop irrigation, livestock use and other water uses from the pumping of shallow groundwater wells within its boundaries. Central performs this service for 907 active wells, while still working ceaselessly to get to the point where the 206 wells shut down in 2006 can once again pump. Well owner contract holders pay a substantial assessment to help cover the cost of administration, water leases and other services for these augmentation plans, but the majority of revenues to operate the water district has to come from general property and specific ownership taxes. Construction of water projects vital to operations and installation of water measurement structures as required by the State of Colorado have only been possible through the issuance of bond debt and from loans and grants.
The passage of 60, 61 and 101 will seriously affect Central. Amendment 61 would prohibit any new debt without voter approval, available only once a year. Borrowing would also be limited to 10 percent of the assessed real property value within our boundaries. These new restrictions will require Central to raise fees, halt project construction or reduce services.
Amendment 60 would eliminate Central’s prior property tax revenue retention vote from 2004. This “de-brucing” voted in by constituents allows Central to retain excess revenues in the Well Augmentation Subdistrict in order to buy and lease water and build new storage projects. This subdistrict contains all the shut down wells. Reversing the voter-approved retention on top of reduced revenues could be the final blow to these well owners.
No one likes paying taxes, but as the saying goes, “Freedom Isn’t Free”. Our price is contributing to the general good so that we all can enjoy good roads, free libraries, top police and fire protection, and precious water for both agriculture and human consumption.
We are privileged to have a voice in our own futures. Make sure you’re registered for the November election, place your vote, and please, take time to assess all the ramifications of the proposed ballot measures.
Every year GMS well pumpers await the annual quota announcement. The figure, a percentage of total pumping allowed on a given irrigation contract, is determined by analyzing current GMS water supply and depletions. Ruthanne Schaffer, CCWCD’s Water Accountant, is instrumental in this analysis. Below, Ruth answers common questions about the quota and water accounting.
The 2010 Children’s Water Festival was a huge success. Click 