To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
Title
Discussion/Direction: Possible Ballot Measures related to Funding Police and Fire Departments, Lodging Tax for Parks and Recreation, Sales Tax for Open Space, TABOR Time Out for Town Priorities
Body
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Executive Summary
Staff will review the previous Council discussions on possible ballot measures, including the alternatives for possible new revenues, needs to certain departments, polling results and related material provided to Council. Our focus is on four (4) possible ballot measures: a new home construction tax to assist in funding the police and fire departments, a lodging tax to assist in funding our parks and recreation department, a 0.1% increase in the Town’s retail sales tax, and temporary time out for 10 years on TABOR revenues for police, fire and transportation purposes. Substantial material is provided as attachments to this agenda item, largely generated from previous Town Council study sessions and meetings. After staff presentation, questions and answers, public comment and Council discussion, the following possible motions are recommended for Council consideration:
1) “I move to direct staff to prepare the necessary ordinance to place a ballot question before Castle Rock voters establishing a new home construction tax of $7.00 per square foot of new residential construction to fund the police department and fire rescue department, and other related necessary provisions in such ordinance, and place the ordinance before Council for consideration on July 20, 2021 agenda”; AND/OR
2) “I move to direct staff to prepare the necessary ordinance to place a ballot question before Castle Rock voters establishing a lodging tax of 6.0% to fund the parks and recreation department, and other related necessary provisions in such ordinance, and place the ordinance before Council for consideration on July 20, 2021 agenda”; AND/OR
3) “I move to direct staff to prepare the necessary ordinance to place a ballot question before Castle Rock voters establishing an additional sales tax of 0.1% to fund the acquisition of open space, and the maintenance and operation of such open space, and other related necessary provisions in such ordinance, and place the ordinance before Council for consideration on July 20, 2021 agenda”; AND/OR
4) “I move to direct staff to prepare the necessary ordinance to place a ballot question before Castle Rock voters establishing a temporary ten (10) year time out from the provisions of the TABOR law for revenues related to the police department, fire/rescue department, and public works/transportation department and other related necessary provisions in such ordinance, and place the ordinance before Council for consideration on July 20, 2021 agenda.”
Attachments
Attachment A: TABOR Information
Attachment B: Presentation
June 15, 2021 Study Session Agenda Memo
Study Session Attachment A: Staff Memo - Alternative Revenue Analysis
Study Session Attachment B: Fire Presentation from March 30, 2021 Study Session
Study Session Attachment C: Police Presentation from March 30, 2021 Study Session
Study Session Attachment D: Infographic - Revenue Diversification
Study Session Attachment E: Property Tax Postcard Examples
Study Session Attachment F: Public Safety Revenue Scenarios
Study Session Attachment G: Potential Revenue Sources Topline Report
Study Session Attachment H: 2021 Citizen Survey Results Report