THANK YOU for HELPING FLIP THE SENATE!

Raphael Warnock (D) WINNER in GA Runoff

Jon Ossoff (D) WINNER in GA Runoff

2020 Election Results

In Ouray County

https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/Ouray/106022/web.264614/#/summary?v=265025%2F

Statewide

https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/105975/web.264614/#/summary

Colorado Ballot Measures

Amendment B Repeals Gallagher Amendment

PASSED

YES

A Yes vote for Amendment B would repeal the Gallagher Amendment to the Colorado Constitution. The Gallagher Amendment currently requires residential property taxes to equal 45% of the total share of property taxes and nonresidential property taxes to equal 55%, but non-residential property has to stay at 29% of the total collected property tax, so residential property taxes fluctuate. Got it? I know! Super confusing!!

In Colorado, the value of home prices has been going up faster than the value of nonresidential property. That has led the tax assessment rate for homes to drop over time, meaning homeowners often see lower property tax bills after each two-year reassessment cycle.

When the Gallagher Amendment was adopted in 1982, 21% of the value of a home was taxed. The current tax assessment rate for residential property is 7.15%.This has meant mostly a decrease in residential property tax over the years since Gallagher went into effect. That might sound good, but because of that, the state government, counties, municipalities, and many small districts such as local fire departments and libraries are not able to maintain current levels of important services due to ever decreasing revenue levels. Gallagher is bad for Colorado. Finally we have a chance to repeal it.

Amendment C Changes charitable gaming license requirements

PASSED

Yes

Nonprofits must be in existence for five years before they can get a bingo-raffle license. Amendment C could cut that to three years.

It’s puzzling why this is in our constitution, but it is. Amendment C is the only ballot measure this year that requires more than a simple majority to pass. It requires a 55% Yes vote to pass.

Amendment 76 Only a citizen of the us can vote

PASSED

Would remove the right of a citizen to participate in voting in a primary if they will turn 18 before the next general election. Let’s continue the practice of allowing young people to get involved in shaping the world that they will inherit! It won’t affect very many people: only those who turn 18 between the primary and the general election on presidential election years.

Amendment 77 Allows specific cities to vote to expand gaming and bet limits

PASSED

Yes

Let the folks in those towns vote to decide if they want betting limits.

No mention is made about the effect of this amendment on Southwest Colorado’s tribal casinos, but past legal interpretations have found any loosening of state law on gaming for the Central City, Black Hawk and Cripple Creek casinos also applies to the tribal casinos.

Proposition EE Increases taxes on tobacco and vaping for education and health

PASSED

YES

A Yes vote for Proposition EE would raise taxes by up to $294 million annually by imposing a tax on nicotine liquids, e-cigarettes and other vaping products that is equal to the state tax on traditional tobacco products. The tax would be phased in incrementally.

If Colorado imposes taxes for cigarettes, it is fair that similar products also be taxed. The new taxes would fund preschool programs, rural schools, K-12 education, affordable housing, rental assistance, eviction legal assistance, health care programs, general state spending on tobacco education programs.

Proposition 113 Joins National popular Vote Interstate Compact

PASSED

YES

Gives Colorado the ability to give all its nine electoral votes to the candidate winning the most votes in the US. If Colorado becomes a member of the NPVIC and if the compact goes into effect, Colorado will give all nine of its Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate winning the most votes nationwide (the winner of the national popular vote.) Currently, Colorado’s nine Electoral College votes must go to the presidential candidate receiving the most votes in Colorado.

The compact would go into effect only if states representing 270 Electoral College votes adopt it. Currently, 14 states and Washington, D.C. – 187 Electoral College votes total – have passed legislation to join the compact. We’re getting close! Let’s add Colorado to the tally.

Proposition 114 Reintroduces gray wolves on public lands

PASSED

YES

A Yes vote for Proposition 114 would require Colorado Parks and Wildlife to create a plan to incrementally reintroduce and then manage the gray wolf on certain designated lands west of the Continental Divide by the end of 2023. The last gray wolves in Colorado were killed around 1940. The gray wolf is classified as an endangered species except in Minnesota, where it is classified as a threatened species.

Bringing wolves back to the ecosystem will improve the landscape for multiple wildlife species, as it improves biodiversity. Ranchers who lose livestock to wolves will be compensated for losses.

I thought this was interesting from the Denver Post, so I’ll share it: In Yellowstone, scientists have observed that introducing wolves in 1995 has dramatically altered the landscape in ways that are beneficial to multiple animals. Because elk fear wolves, they don’t overgraze a single area, especially in the winter when the ungulates munch on young willow, aspen and other saplings. Overgrazing had pushed out beavers who relied upon the willows and aspen for food and also for building their shelters and dams, which subsequently created pools of water assisting in times of drought for fish populations and other animals.

However, Montana has restored balance by allowing liberal wolf hunting laws. Not only is the elk herd healthier, according to wildlife biologists who note the wolves primarily kill sick and injured big game, but the decline in population has allowed other big game to thrive. Bison and deer populations have grown, as have other predators who scavenge off wolf kills like bears and coyotes.

Biologists seem to agree that Yellowstone’s animal populations are healthier with wolves.

Proposition 115 Abortion ban after 22 weeks

FAILED

Removes a woman's right to choose her own destiny. This initiative would prohibit abortions after a fetus reaches 22 weeks gestational age. Under the initiative, abortions after 22 weeks would be lawful if the physician believes it is immediately necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg said, in her 1993 confirmation hearing, "The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman's life, to her well-being and dignity. It is a decision she must make for herself. When the government controls that decision for her, she is being treated as less than a full adult human responsible for her own choices." — 1993 Senate Confirmation Hearings

RBG also said, “The conflict is not simply one between a fetus’ interest and a woman’s interest. Also in the balance is a woman’s autonomous charge of her full life’s course, her ability to stand in relation to men, society and the state as an independent, self-sustaining equal citizen.”

Proposition 116 Decreases state income tax rate from 4.63% to 4.55%

PASSED

Already facing a billion-dollar deficit next year, the state’s own fiscal impact study estimates that state revenue would fall by more than $158 million in 2020-21 and nearly $170 million in 2021-22.

Decades of tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations perpetuate inequities at a time where more funding is needed for all the things we care most about (environmental protection, social justice, education, etc.,) not less.

Proposition 117 Requires voter approval of some enterprises exempt from TABOR

PASSED

NO.

Strengthens TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights, a 1992 state constitutional amendment) when what we want to do is get rid of TABOR.

A Yes vote for Proposition 117 would require statewide voter approval of new state enterprises if revenue from fees and surcharges to support the new enterprise is greater than $100 million in the first five years. Enterprises were established through TABOR, a 1992 state constitutional amendment. Enterprises are government-owned businesses that provide goods or services for a fee or surcharge that is paid for by the individuals or entities that are purchasing the goods or services. Enterprises have funded things in the past such as Parks and Wildlife, the lottery, and many transportation issues started as enterprises. This measure would make creating enterprises, which have been very useful to Coloradans, way too onerous.

Proposition 118 Paid medical and family leave program

PASSED

YES

A Yes vote for Proposition 118 supports establishing a family and medical leave program in Colorado. The program would provide 12 weeks, and in certain cases up to 16 weeks, of paid leave. The maximum benefit would be $1,100 per week.

The program would be funded through a payroll tax to be paid for by employees and employers in a 50-50 split. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees would be exempt from paying the premium. Sole proprietors could opt in to the program.

Only four states—California, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island—currently offer paid family and medical leave. All of these state programs are funded through employee-paid payroll taxes and administered through their respective disability programs.

Issue 6A Ouray County Regional Service Authority

PASSED

YES

It allows for the continued operation of the medical clinic in Ridgway.

Issue 7A Colorado River Water Conservation District

PASSED

This may seem like a no-brainer to vote YES for $ to what has been a good organizatin in the past. But recent leadership has neglected water conservation and efficiencies in favor of water diversion and storage. If you vote YES, you could mention this concern to President of the Board, Dave Merritt: dmerritt@crwcd.org