City Leaders Kick Off Efforts To Pass Ballot Measure 2A
DENVER (CBS4) - Denver city and business leaders kicked off efforts on Monday to convince voters to "de-Bruce" the city.
Denver Ballot Measure 2A would ask voters to allow Denver to scratch the constitutional limitation on tax revenue, also known as TABOR.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock says getting rid of the measure backed by Douglas Bruce would let the city use $68 million in taxes it already collects to help restore services, including expanding library hours.
Opponents say agencies should have to complete efficiency audits first.
The ballot language for Measure 2A is as follows:
Without increasing any tax rate or adopting any new tax, and in order to pay for improvements to police, fire, streets, Denver Public Library, parks, after-school and summer programs for children and such services as specified in City Council Bill 12-566 and published on the city's web-site, shall the City and County of Denver be authorized to collect, retain and spend all tax revenue derived from the city's existing gross tax rates to the extent those revenues exceed the constitutional limitation on tax revenue, also known as TABOR, beginning in 2013, provided that in no event shall the city increase the maximum lawful property tax rate without prior voter approval as required by Section 20(4)(a) of Article X of the Colorado Constitution, and requiring specific annual reporting requirements by the Manager of Finance to the mayor, the city auditor and the city council on the disposition of these funds?
The Downtown Denver Partnership on Monday also sent out an email to members stating that their board has voted to endorse the measure.
"The Board believes that restoring services is essential to building a great City," Cole Finegan, the chairman of the Downtown Denver Partnership Board of Directors wrote in the email.
