Denver Revenue Bonds and Tax Extension for National Western Center and Colorado Convention Center, Measure 2C (November 2015)

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A measure to increase city debt and extend a tourism tax in order to fund tourism-related projects was on the ballot for voters in Denver, Colorado, on November 3, 2015. It was approved.

The measure increased Denver's debt by up to $778,000,000 and indefinitely extended a 1.75 percent tourism tax. These revenue sources were earmarked to finance tourism-related projects, specifically focused on the National Western Center and the Colorado Convention Center. These projects were designed to potentially include construction and improvement, river clean up, historical site preservation, public transportation improvement, and the creation of art and cultural spaces.

This measure came as part of a plan to revitalize the National Western Center into a year-round event center and agricultural hub. The NWC was built in 1905, and, while it had been renovated and expanded over the previous 110 years, the buildings and land had deteriorated. The North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative was formed by the city in 2013 to plan for and revitalize the area, and this measure was intended to help fund the collaborative.

The tax extended indefinitely by the approval of Measure 2C was a 1.75 percent tax on hotel rooms and rental cars that was approved in 1999 and was set to expire in 2023. Measure 2C did not increase or otherwise change this tax. It did, however, direct $476 million from the tax revenue to help fund the proposed NWC project.

Election results

Denver, Measure 2C
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		78,901	65.55%
No		41,460	34.45%

Election results from Denver Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The following question appeared on the ballot:

“

Shall City and County of Denver debt be increased by no more than $778,000,000 with a maximum repayment cost of no more than $1,999,000,000, without imposing any new tax or increasing any tax rate; with such debt to be issued for the purpose of financing the following tourism related projects: The National Western Center including: Constructing and improving the approximately 270 acre National Western Center in order to continue it as the home for the National Western Stock Show. Providing locations for new Colorado State University agriculture-related academic buildings on the National Western Center. Cleaning up and revitalizing nearly a mile of the South Platte River. Providing greater access to approximately 80 acres of park and open space land and 12 new acres of National Western Center riverfront area. Restoring and preserving historical sites and providing for new uses on the National Western Center. Creating additional connections between Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea neighborhoods and increasing access to public transportation. Creating flexible art and cultural facility spaces including art galleries, music, art and dance studios, and a year-round fresh food market. Enhancements to and expansion of the Colorado Convention Center including exhibit and meeting spaces and necessary technological improvements. Shall the debt be evidenced by bonds, notes, loan agreements or other financial obligations that may be redeemable prior to maturity with or without a premium, be repaid from revenues derived from the city's lodger's tax, auto rental tax, and other legally available revenues (excluding property taxes) as the city council may determine; shall the city be authorized to refund the debt authorized in this question, provided that such refunding debt, when combined with other outstanding debt authorized in this question, does not exceed the maximum principal limits or repayment costs authorized by this question; and, shall the expiration of the lodger's tax and the auto rental tax at a rate equal to 1.75% approved by the voters in 1999 be extended indefinitely, with the revenues from such taxes to be used to pay such debt and the costs of operating, maintaining and improving the National Western Center campus and the Colorado Convention Center and other tourism related projects?

”

Resolution

The full text of the resolution calling for this measure is available here.

Support

Supporters

• Michael B. Hancock, Denver Mayor
• Crisanta Duran, D-Denver, House Majority Leader
• Tony Frank, Colorado State University President
• John Zapien, Globeville activist
• Cindy Parsons, VISIT Denver chair

A full list of the measure's supporters is available on the Smart Deal for Denver campaign website.

Arguments in favor

Supporters of the measure argued that the projects funded by the measure would have significant positive effects on Denver tourism. They claimed that, if it were revitalized, the National Western Center could become a major year-round destination, drawing tourism revenue to the city.

Mayor Hancock advocated the measure to an audience of lawmakers and business and community leaders gathered in the Stadium Arena on August 7, 2015:

“	This is truly a smart deal for Denver. The National Western Center plan is our opportunity to keep the stock show in Denver and make it thrive for another century. With the voters’ support, we’ll reinvent the National Western as a year-round destination for entertainment and tourism.	”
—Mayor Michael B. Hancock

Cindy Parsons, chair of the city’s convention and tourism bureau, also spoke in support of the measure:

“	In 2014, the Colorado Convention Center lost 236 major events because we did not have adequate or available space. Without raising taxes, this ballot measure will allow us to say yes to more convention organizers and meeting planners who want to host events in Denver. And by capturing greater market share, we’ll generate more tourism revenue to support local businesses and invest in our city.	”
—Cindy Parsons

Other supporters cited the potential educational and environmental effects of the measure as reasons for their support. The measure was expected to allow Colorado State University to build new facilities and develop new educational programs for nearby schools. It could also, according to supporters, result in the clean-up of a mile-long stretch of river, bringing about environmental benefits.

Opposition

Opponents

The following individuals opposed Measure 2C:

• Thad Tecza, community activist
• Tom Anthony, community activist

Arguments against

Opponents of the measure cited the increase in Denver's debt as a reason for concern. Opponents pointed out that Measure 2C was written to create more than $750 million of new debt, which could have a repayment cost of over a billion dollars. Additionally, allegedly vague wording in sections of the measure concerned some critics. If the tourism tax was insufficient to pay the debt, the city stated that “other legally available revenues (excluding property taxes) as city council may determine” may be used, which raised concerns for some that Denver taxpayers might end up footing the bill. Some critics of the measure called it a "blank check" for Mayor Hancock's administration and argued that it could end up costing even more than was estimated.

Others were concerned that the tourism tax extended by Measure 2C would be made permanent rather than merely extended for a certain period of time. They believed that the tax ought to have a sun-set provision that took effect after the debt was repaid and that the lack of an automatic expiration date was worrying.

Community political activist Thad Tecza spoke out in opposition to the measure:

“	A group of the city movers and shakers decided that the Stock Show should stay at its present location [and] be expanded, and then searched for a source of revenue to achieve their desired outcome. When they stumbled on extending the Lodgers and Car Rental Taxes, they thought they had struck gold. Despite what you are being told, this constitutes a new tax, and they are required to put it to a vote of the people. As a result, they have to convince us yokels to approve the plan.	”
—Thad Tecza, political activist

Tom Anthony, a well-known local activist, also opposed the measure, attributing it to ulterior motives from Denver's leaders:

“	You might say anything is better than nothing, but the real driving force on the National Western Center seems to be the 2026 Winter Olympics, here in Elyria. Nobody in authority will admit it but the initial plans kept mentioning ‘Olympic Sized Speed Skating Arena.’ And since the city quietly ignored constant neighborhood nattering for a new school by North Side Park, we’ll have to assume the city has other plans more compelling for its 22-acre weed patch. Vail will get its train, Denver will showcase its wonderfulness (to foreign visitors), and Elyria will emerge 12 years from now as an up-and-coming enclave for the aspiring skaters and horse doctors of the metro area.	”
—Tom Anthony, neighborhood activist

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Denver Revenue Bonds Tax Extension Measure Western Center Colorado Convention. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Denver Revenue Bonds and Tax Extension for National Western Center and Colorado Convention Center, Measure 2C (November 2015) - Google News

See also

• Colorado ballot measures
• Denver County, Colorado ballot measures
• November 3, 2015 ballot measures in Colorado
• Denver 2015 mayoral election
• Denver 2015 city council election

External links

Suggest a link

• Denver Elections website
• Smart Deal for Denver campaign website