HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 10/07/2014 - RESOLUTION 2014-087 EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL'SAgenda Item 9
Item # 9 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY October 7, 2014
City Council
STAFF
Ginny Sawyer, Policy and Project Manager
SUBJECT
Resolution 2014-087 Expressing the City Council's Support for the Passage of Larimer County Ballot Issue 1B
Extending a Fifteen One-Hundredths of One Percent County-Wide Sales and use Tax for the Operation of the
Larimer County Jail and Urging the Citizens of Fort Collins to Vote "YES" on this Ballot Issue.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is for City Council to express its support of the passage of the countywide jail tax
renewal and to encourage the citizens of the City of Fort Collins to vote “yes” on this measure.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
None.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
In 1997, Larimer County voters approved a 0.2 percent sales tax for construction, equipping, operating and
maintaining an addition to the jail, with the tax to decrease to 0.15 percent for operation of the addition upon its
completion. That tax is set to expire December 31, 2014. In November, the County will be asking voters to
extend the 0.15 tax for an additional 25 years and to approve use of the tax for operation of the entire jail.
The County jail is a leader in the use of alternative programming for low-level offenders. Renewing the tax
would keep more general fund dollars available for these alternative programs which are less costly than
incarceration. Approval of this renewal would also prevent additional stress on the County budget as they
continue to recover from recent fires and flooding.
The City of Fort Collins utilizes the County jail when necessary and recognizes the need for the continued
operations and services provided.
FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACTS
If approved the .15 percent sales tax would continue for 25 years. This would be a reduction from the current
.2 percent that is set to expire.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
There has been media coverage on this issue and a League of Women Voters Cross Currents program.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2014-087
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL’S SUPPORT FOR THE PASSAGE OF
LARIMER COUNTY BALLOT ISSUE 1B EXTENDING A FIFTEEN ONE-HUNDREDTHS
OF ONE PERCENT COUNTYWIDE SALES AND USE TAX FOR THE OPERATION
OF THE LARIMER COUNTY JAIL AND URGING THE CITIZENS OF
FORT COLLINS TO VOTE “YES” ON THIS BALLOT ISSUE
WHEREAS, on November 4, 1997, the voters of Larimer County approved a referred
measure authorizing the imposition of a Countywide Fifteen One-Hundredths of One Percent
sales and use tax for the operation of a new addition to the Larimer County Jail (the “1997 Jail
Tax”); and
WHEREAS, according to its terms, the 1997 Jail Tax terminates on December 31, 2014,
unless extended with the approval of the voters of Larimer County; and
WHEREAS, the Larimer County Jail serves Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Estes
Park, Johnstown, Timnath, Wellington, Windsor, and the unincorporated areas of Larimer
County, Colorado; and
WHEREAS, the City utilizes the County jail when necessary, and the availability and
efficient operation of the County jail is critical to the City’s law enforcement and Municipal
Court functions; and
WHEREAS, on August 19, 2014, the Board of County Commissioners of Larimer
County adopted Resolution No. 08192014R009, which placed Ballot Issue 1B on the November
4, 2014, ballot; and
WHEREAS, if passed, Ballot Issue 1B will benefit the City and the Fort Collins
community by providing funding for operation of the entire Larimer County jail, for a period of
twenty-five years (to and including December 31, 2039); and
WHEREAS, for the sum of $0.15 on every $10 spent in Larimer County for a period of
twenty-five years, the County will be able to better support law enforcement efforts throughout
the County and in Fort Collins, through the operation of the Larimer County Jail.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That for the reasons set forth above, the City Council fully supports the
passage of Larimer County Ballot Issue 1B.
Section 2. That the City Council urges every registered voter to go to the polls on
November 4, 2014, and to vote “YES” on Ballot Issue 1B to extend a sales and use tax of 0.15%.
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Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 7th
day of October, A.D. 2014.
_________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk