Voters given TABOR question

After an extensive community conversation with residents and receiving public comments through a variety of forums, the City Council decided at its Aug. 27 meeting to put a question on the November ballot to ask voters about the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights limits in Lakewood. Watch the meeting here.

The ballot language is available on this site, and an outline of the question is below.

• Ask Lakewood voters whether or not to allow the city to keep and spend the $12.5 million of funds currently in excess of the TABOR limits for the following purposes:
  • $8.5 million for open space and parkland purchases.
  • $2 million for police protective gear and safety-related assets.
  • $2 million for infrastructure and transportation improvements.
• Ask voters whether or not to allow the city to keep and spend any future revenues above the TABOR limits through Dec. 31, 2025, for the following purposes:
  • One-third for open space and parkland purchases, improvements and maintenance.
  • One-third on police agents, safety equipment and assets.
  • One-third on infrastructure including transportation improvements with high-priority safety concerns and for new and upgraded sidewalks, paths, streetlights and path lighting where needed for safety.
• Require a separate budget to ensure the $12.5 million and any future revenues above the TABOR limit are spent for only these purposes.