Colorado Springs ballot initiative news

For information on the local ballot initiatives and ballot litigation.

Two initiatives make Colorado Springs November ballot

State Rep. Douglas Bruce submitted petitions June 17, 2008, with about 50 percent more signatures than the 11,470 needed to qualify two proposals for the Colorado Springs November 2008 ballot.

The proposals, if passed by voters, would dismantle Colorado Springs' Stormwater Enterprise and overhaul how the city's other enterprises operate. The clerk has until July 17 to complete the validation process.

The first proposal would require all city enterprises to bill and collect charges on a voluntary basis, excluding Memorial Health System. The second would phase out payments to the city from its enterprises in 10 years, with the savings passed on to customers. The measure would also ban loans, gifts, and subsidies between the enterprises and the city, excluding sales and use taxes.

City officials have said the measures could devastate the city budget. In wiping out the stormwater fee, city officials have said, voters would leave the city with no way to pay for a $300-million backlog of drainage projects.

Bruce, author of the state's TABOR tax and spending limitations, said voters want to vote on tax increases. He said the stormwater fee, initiated in 2007, is a tax, because it's mandatory based on a property's impervious surfaces and because the city plans to place tax liens on properties for nonpayment. The city collects about $15 million annually from the fee.

Initiative process strengthened in Colorado Springs

Dec. 11 2007-In Colorado Springs is facing a new initiative process due a lawsuit brought forth by Douglas Bruce when the City Council members refused to set titles for his tax-limitation issue. The new process will involve involves a citizen panel, public meetings and revisions to ballot measures. Council members described the measure as more “collaborative” and “common sense.”

Paid circulators misleading voters?

Paid circulators are being accused of misleading voters when asking them to sign petitions. The group is circulation a petition that asks people to sign a "collective bargaining for city employees" petition. The circulators have associated themselves with benefits for the fire department even though the fire department would not benefit nor is associated with the petition. The group works for Kennedy Enterprises. According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, Kennedy Enterprises was involved in an Indiana investigation in 2000 for placing the names of four people who had died on a petition drive to get then-Republican candidate Gary Bauer onto the state's presidential primary ballot.

Colorado Springs City Council refuses to set ballot title

In Colorado, Douglas Bruce has proposed a ballot measure to make city enterprises subject to voluntary payments only for the 2008 general election ballot. The Colorado Springs City Council voted 5-3 to refuse to set a ballot title for the measure. Bruce has already sued the council once and will be returning to court after being denied at the rehearing.