Loveland
Larimer County Issue 7A: what a yes vote would authorize
Voters can learn what approval would authorize for passenger rail, including a sales and use tax and added district debt, and who is eligible to vote on the measure.
Ballot Issue 7A appears under the Front Range Passenger Rail District on Larimer County’s sample ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
Here’s what a yes vote would authorize, who can vote and whether the rest of a ballot will count if it includes Issue 7A but was sent outside the district.
Why does Issue 7A appear on Larimer County ballots?
Larimer County’s sample ballot lists Issue 7A under the Front Range Passenger Rail District.
What would a yes vote on Issue 7A authorize?
Larimer County’s sample ballot says Issue 7A proposes a 0.333% sales and use tax, equal to one third of a penny on a $1 purchase. Exemptions under Colorado law include gasoline, food, residential electricity and gas, prescription drugs and medical supplies.
Larimer County’s sample ballot says Issue 7A asks voters to approve a Front Range Passenger Rail District tax increase of $295,000,000 annually and by whatever amounts are raised annually thereafter. It also asks for a $580,000,000 increase in district debt, with a repayment cost of $785,000,000.
Larimer County’s sample ballot says Issue 7A would fund construction, operation and maintenance of Colorado Connector (COCO) passenger rail service on Colorado’s Front Range, connecting Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Sterling Ranch, Littleton, Denver, Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville, Boulder, Longmont, Loveland and Fort Collins. It asks to allow the district to retain all tax revenues, public and private contributions, and investment income on revenues and debt proceeds as a voter-approved revenue change under Section 20 of Article X of the Colorado Constitution. Dedicated revenues would be reviewed annually by an independent auditor and a rotating group of citizen taxpayers who live in the district.
Who is eligible to vote on Issue 7A?
Only votes on ballots from voters eligible for the district election will count in the Issue 7A contest, Colorado County Clerks Association Director Matt Crane and Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said.
The complete list of jurisdictions within the district can be found on the Front Range Passenger Rail District’s website.
Will the rest of a ballot count if it includes Issue 7A but was sent to someone outside the district?
The Colorado Department of State and Colorado County Clerks Association said a ballot sent with Issue 7A to a voter outside the district boundaries would be counted except for the Issue 7A contest.
The department and association say you should vote the ballot you were sent.