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Denver, Colorado, Initiated Ordinance 300, Increase Denver Marijuana Sales Tax to Fund Pandemic Research Initiative (November 2021)
| Denver Initiated Ordinance 300 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 2, 2021 | |
| Topic Local marijuana tax | |
Status Defeated | |
| Type Initiative | Origin Citizens |
Denver Initiated Ordinance 300 was on the ballot as an initiative in Denver on November 2, 2021. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported increasing the Denver retail marijuana sales tax (1.5% as of 2021) by $7 million annually to fund pandemic research, preparedness, and recovery. |
A "no" vote opposed increasing the Denver retail marijuana sales tax by $7 million annually to fund pandemic research, preparedness, and recovery. |
A simple majority was required for the approval of Initiated Ordinance 300.
Measure design
The measure was designed to increase the Denver marijuana retail sales tax from its current rate of 1.5% such that revenue would be increased by $7 million per year beginning in 2022 with revenues dedicated to the University of Colorado Denver City Center in order to fund pandemic research, preparedness, and recovery. Funds were designed to be allocated as follows:
- 75% for research on personal protective equipment; disinfection and sterilization technology; and design features of physical spaces;
- 25% for research on public policy and planning; and
- 8% for administrative expenses.
Election results
|
Denver Initiated Ordinance 300 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 64,716 | 39.81% | ||
|
|
97,834 | 60.19% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Initiated Ordinance 300 was as follows:
| “ | SHALL DENVER RETAIL MARIJUANA SALES TAX BE INCREASED BY $7 MILLION ANNUALLY, BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2022, AND BY WHATEVER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, FROM A ONE AND ONE-HALF (1.5) PERCENT RETAIL MARIJUANA SALES TAX TO BE USED TO FUND: • PANDEMIC RESEARCH FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM THE SPREAD OF PANDEMIC PATHOGENS, INCLUDING AT SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND HOSPITALS; • PANDEMIC RESEARCH FOR PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY, INCLUDING URBAN, ECONOMIC, AND SCHOOL PLANNING;
PROVIDED THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE DEDICATED ENTIRELY TO THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER CITYCENTER WHICH WILL BE REQUIRED TO EQUITABLY ALLOCATE THE FUNDS WHEREIN SEVENTY-FIVE (75) PERCENT OF THE FUNDS ARE LIMITED TO THE THREE RESEARCH CATEGORIES OF: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT; DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION TECHNOLOGY; AND DESIGN FEATURES OF PHYSICAL SPACES, AND THAT TWENTY-FIVE (25) PERCENT OF THE FUNDS ARE LIMITED TO RESEARCHING PUBLIC POLICY AND PLANNING, THAT NO MORE THAN EIGHT (8) PERCENT OF THE TAX REVENUE IN ANY YEAR SHALL BE SPENT ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, THAT AFTER TWENTY YEARS THE AREAS OF TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF PANDEMIC PATHOGENS MAY BE EXPANDED, THAT OVERSIGHT WILL REQUIRE ANNUAL AUDIT AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, AND REQUIRING THAT REVENUES FROM THESE INCREASED TAXES SHALL BE COLLECTED AND SPENT WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY EXPENDITURE, REVENUE-RAISING, OR OTHER LIMITATION CONTAINED WITHIN ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW? | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
- Guarding Against Pandemics[1]
- Sam Bankman-Fried[1]
- Denver Pandemic Fund[2]
- Colorado Nurses Association[2]
- The Center for African American Health[2]
Arguments
- Denver Pandemic Fund said, "Global health experts warned of a pandemic threat for years before COVID-19. Yet, when the virus hit, there was little planning in place. Elected leaders and government officials scrambled for policy solutions, health treatments and even basic protections. Many lives–and livelihoods–were lost. The Denver Pandemic Fund, Initiated Ordinance 300, will provide research into practical solutions for everyday effects of a pandemic. Solutions that will address impacts on our daily lives: in our schools, small businesses and neighborhoods. A pandemic can strike at any time – next time, we’ll be ready."[2]
- The Colorado Nurses Association said, "Pandemic prevention is underfunded, plain and simple. The Colorado Nurses Association supports Ordinance 300 to move us in the right direction, which will help protect nurses, their patients, and our community.”[2]
- Guarding Against Pandemics said, "While there has been massive public investment in responding to COVID-19, there has been almost no public investment targeted at protecting us from the next pandemic. COVID-19 has taken so many lives and cost so much money because we did not prepare for it. And while it is critical that we respond to this current pandemic, we must also prepare for the next one."[2]
Opposition
Opponents
- Joshua Sharf, former vice-chair of the Denver County Republican Party[1]
Background
Ballotpedia is tracking ballot measures proposed in response to the pandemic or pandemic-related regulations and restrictions. Some of these changes, such as state constitutional amendments, require ballot measures for ratification. Others are citizen-initiated proposals, meaning campaigns collect signatures to put policies and laws on the ballot for voters to decide. Click here to see a full list of measures on the ballot related to coronavirus-related regulations.
Colorado Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR)
The ballot measure was designed to allow the local government to retain revenue above the TABOR limit as a voter-approved revenue change.
TABOR, the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (Section 20 of Article X of the Colorado Constitution).
The Colorado Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) requires voter approval for all new taxes, tax rate increases, extensions of expiring taxes, mill levy increases, valuation for property assessment increases, or tax policy changes resulting in increased tax revenue. The Colorado Taxpayer's Bill of Rights was passed by voters in 1992 as Initiative 1. The measure was approved by a vote of 53.68% to 46.32%. The measure was sponsored by Colorado activist Douglas Bruce (R).[3][4]
TABOR limits the amount of money the state of Colorado (and local governments in Colorado) can take in and spend. It limits the annual increase for some state revenue to inflation plus the percentage change in state population. Any money collected above this limit is refunded to taxpayers unless the voters allow the state or local government to spend it.
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a citizen initiative petition. Signatures for initiated ordinance petitions are due 180 days after they are approved for circulation. To qualify for the ballot, 8,265 valid signatures were required. The measure qualified for the ballot on July 15, 2021.[5][6]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Denverite, "Denver Initiated Ordinance 300: Should recreational marijuana taxes be raised to pay for pandemic research?," accessed October 22, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Denver Pandemic Fund, "Initiated Ordinance 300 - saving lives & livelihoods," accessed October 28, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Statesman, "Springs Council rethinks TABOR repeal," January 16, 2009
- ↑ Colorado State Legislative Council, "Ballot History," accessed February 20, 2014
- ↑ Denver Post, "Here are the 13 measures set for Denver’s unusually crowded November ballot," accessed September 23, 2021
- ↑ DenverGov.org, "2021 Initiative Tracking," accessed September 23, 2021
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