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1A: El Paso County Ballot Question

Story By: Abby Lane
Source: KOAA

About 200 people gathered in Acacia Park today to show their support for ballot question 1A.  Many of them will benefit directly from it.

The crowd was a mix of public officials, community activists, city and county employees and citizens.   

1A calls for raising the El Paso County sales tax by one cent on every dollar.  The money  would benefit the sheriff’s office and health department, paying for building medium and maximum security facilities, and hiring additional police, sheriff officers, fire fighters and public health officers. Backers say it will fill a growing need. Opponents say it’s a tax increase at the wrong time.

SHALL EL PASO COUNTY TAXES BE INCREASED BY $75 MILLION ANNUALLY AND BY WHATEVER AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, BY ENACTING AN INCREASE IN THE COUNTY'S SALES AND USE TAX RATE OF ONE CENT PER DOLLAR, PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 2, TITLE 29, COLORADO REVISED STATUTES, IN ORDER TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH BY IMPROVING THE ABILITY OF THE SHERIFF, POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS TO PROTECT CITIZENS, THE ABILITY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO PROSECUTE AND INCARCERATE CRIMINAL OFFENDERS, AND THE ABILITY OF PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS TO INVESTIGATE, PROTECT AGAINST AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DANGEROUS INFECTIOUS DISEASES,WITH THE SALES AND PURCHASES OF FOOD, PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, FUELS USED IN PROVIDING RESIDENTIAL LIGHT, HEAT, AND POWER, AND OTHER EXEMPTIONS AS SET FORTH IN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER RESOLUTION 08-375, BEING EXEMPT FROM, AND, THEREFORE, NOT SUBJECT TO THE SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE IN THIS BALLOT ISSUE (SIMILARLY, GASOLINE AND DIESEL FUELS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE ), AND WITH ALL REVENUES GENERATED FROM THIS SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE RESTRICTED TO THE FOLLOWING, AND FOR NO OTHER, PURPOSES:

1. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2009 AND CONTINUING THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2010, THE COUNTY SHALL EXPEND FIFTY PERCENT (50%) OF ALL REVENUES GENERATED FROM THIS SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MEDIUM AND MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITIES AT THE EL PASO COUNTY REGIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER (JAIL), INCLUDING THE COSTS OF EQUIPPING AND FURNISHING THE PROJECT, AND EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2011, AND CONTINUING UNTIL THE EARLIER OF COMPLETION OF ALL OF THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC SAFETY CAPITAL PROJECTS OR JANUARY 1, 2026, THE COUNTY SHALL EXPEND TEN PERCENT (10%) OF ALL REVENUES GENERATED FROM THE SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE FOR THE FOLLOWING REGIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE COSTS OF EQUIPPING AND FURNISHING OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, AND WITH THE REVENUES FROM THE SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE TO BE HELD BY THE COUNTY TREASURER IN RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS THAT MAY ONLY BE USED TO CARRY OUT THE VOTERS' INTENT AS EXPRESSED IN THIS BALLOT ISSUE, AND FOR NO OTHER PURPOSES:
   1. COMPLETING, IF NOT COMPLETED DURING THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1, 2009 TO JANUARY 1, 2011, THE REGIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER (JAIL), MAXIMUM AND MEDIUM SECURITY FACILITIES, EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF.S OFFICE, ESTIMATED TO COST $75,500,000;

2. REGIONAL SHERIFF’S OPERATIONS, TRAINING AND CORONER.S OFFICE MEDICAL EXAMINER-LABORATORY FACILITY, EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF.S AND CORONER'S OFFICE, ESTIMATED TO COST $26,000,000;

3. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS/SECURED INFORMATION CENTER, CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS, ESTIMATED TO COST $10,500,000;

4. NORTHERN REGION JOINT PUBLIC SAFETY SUBSTATION, CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ESTIMATED TO COST $6,300,000;

5. REGIONAL WORK RELEASE FACILITY, EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ESTIMATED TO COST $7,000,000;

6. SOUTHERN REGION JOINT PUBLIC SAFETY SUBSTATION, EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ESTIMATED TO COST $6,300,000;

7. 4TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT FACILITY NEEDS ARISING FROM UNFUNDED STATE MANDATES, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ESTIMATED TO COST $15,900,000;

8. REGIONAL JUDICIAL COMPLEX SECURITY SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS, 4TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, ESTIMATED TO COST $2,500,000;

9. SHERIFF'S OFFICE EMERGENCY AND WILDLAND FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY, EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ESTIMATED TO COST $3,000,000;
1. THE COUNTY SHALL EXPEND THE REMAINDER OF THE REVENUES GENERATED EACH YEAR FROM THE SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE TO FUND PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OPERATIONAL AND CAPITAL NEEDS AND IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING THE HIRING, TRAINING, COMPENSATION AND EQUIPPING OF POLICE OFFICERS, SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, FIRE FIGHTERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS/PARAMEDICS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY EMPLOYEES, CORONER EMPLOYEES, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS, AND OTHER SWORN AND NON-SWORN PERSONNEL OF THESE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AGENCIES, WITH SUCH FUNDS TO BE HELD BY THE COUNTY TREASURER IN RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS THAT SHALL ONLY BE USED TO CARRY OUT THE VOTERS' INTENT AS EXPRESSED IN THIS BALLOT ISSUE, AND THE COUNTY SHALL DISTRIBUTE THESE FUNDS ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING PERCENTAGES, AND ONLY FOR THE FOLLOWING, AND FOR NO OTHER, PURPOSES:
   1. REGIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER (JAIL), EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, 17.5%;

2. REGIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, EL PASO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT, 20%;

3. PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY FUNCTIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES,47.5%. THE COUNTY SHALL DISTRIBUTE THE AMOUNTS BASED ON POPULATION, WHICH SHALL BE CALCULATED ANNUALLY BASED ON THE MOST CURRENT POPULATION DATA AVAILABLE FROM THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS:
   1. CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS,

2. EL PASO COUNTY (POPULATION IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS ONLY),

3. CITY OF FOUNTAIN,

4. CITY OF MANITOU SPRINGS,

5. TOWN OF MONUMENT,

6. TOWN OF PALMER LAKE,

7. TOWN OF CALHAN,

8. TOWN OF GREEN MOUNTAIN FALLS,

9. TOWN OF RAMAH,
3. PROGRAM FOR EMERGENCY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE ENFORCEMENT, 2.5%;

5. DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, 5%;

6. REGIONAL CORONER'S OFFICE MEDICAL EXAMINER- LABORATORY FACILITY, EL PASO COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE, 2.5%;

7. REGIONAL OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, EL PASO COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND COLORADO SPRINGS OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, 2%;

8. REGIONAL CHILD AND ADULT PROTECTION PROGRAMS WHICH SHALL BE USED TO INVESTIGATE, PROSECUTE, TREAT AND PREVENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF CHILDREN AND OF ADULTS WHO ARE ELDERLY AND/OR DISABLED, EL PASO COUNTY, 3%;
2. EFFECTIVE THE EARLIER OF COMPLETION OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH A OF THIS BALLOT ISSUE OR JANUARY 1, 2026, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, THE PORTION OF THE SALES AND USE TAX RATE INCREASE THAT IS BEING USED SPECIFICALLY FOR REGIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AS SET FORTH IN PART A, ABOVE, SHALL TERMINATE WITHOUT THE NEED FOR ANY ACTION ON THE PART OF THE COUNTY, AND THE SALES AND USE TAX RATE INCREASE IN THIS BALLOT ISSUE SHALL BE REDUCED BY 0.1% (1/10TH CENT PER DOLLAR) ;

4. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2009, AND FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER, THE COUNTY SHALL BUDGET AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NOT LESS THAN THE AMOUNTS BUDGETED AND APPROPRIATED FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS STATED IN THE COUNTY'S FISCAL YEAR 2008 REVISED BUDGET AS THE REVISED BUDGET EXISTED ON JULY 31, 2008;

5. AND WITH ALL REVENUES GENERATED FROM THIS SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE AND THE EARNINGS ON SUCH REVENUES TO CONSTITUTE VOTER APPROVED REVENUE AND SPENDING CHANGES OF THE COUNTY AND THE MUNICIPALITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN, TO BE COLLECTED AND SPENT EACH YEAR BY THE COUNTY AND THE MUNICIPALITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN WITHOUT LIMITATION BY THE REVENUE AND SPENDING LIMITS OF, AND WITHOUT AFFECTING THE COUNTY'S ABILITY OR THE ABILITY OF THE MUNICIPALITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN TO COLLECT AND SPEND OTHER REVENUES OR FUNDS UNDER, ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW, OR, FOR THE CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS, THE REVENUE AND SPENDING PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE VII, § 7-90 OF THE COLORADO SPRINGS CITY CHARTER, WITH THE SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE TO BE ADMINISTERED, COLLECTED AND ENFORCED ACCORDING TO BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER RESOLUTION 08-375, AND TO BE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDIT;

6. AND FURTHER PROVIDED THAT IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COUNTY USE ANY REVENUES GENERATED FROM THE SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE AS A PLEDGE OR SECURITY FOR ANY BONDED INDEBTEDNESS, ANY CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION OR ANY MULTI-YEAR FINANCIAL OBLIGATION WITHOUT SPECIFIC VOTER APPROVAL?