April 8, 2010, Denver, CO

Residents in cities and towns across the state voted on candidates and local ballot measures on Tuesday. Following is an overview of ballot results.

Fiscal

Municipal finance questions did very well

Out of 9 sales/use tax questions, 7 passed, including a first of its kind medical marijuana dispensary sales tax in Fruita

Moffat’s voters extended the sales tax to food

Keenesburg and Superior approved property tax increases

Three TABOR revenue retention questions passed in Palmer Lake

A $3.3 million bond issue failed in Buena Vista and a $750,000 debt question for street improvements passed in Haxtun

Lodging taxes failed in Nederland and Ridgway. A similar question in Sedgwick is still being sorted out because of an initial tie vote

Governance

In the area of term limits, Castle Rock voters increased council terms from 2 to 4 years

Voters in Morrison and Otis rejected eliminating term limits

Superior voters approved moving the election date from April to November

South Fork voters rejected a measure to reduce the size of the Town Board

Elizabeth voters approved conducting future elections by mail ballot

A study of home rule through an elected charter commission was rejected in Granby

Voters in 9 out of 10 towns approved publishing ordinances by title only

Five other towns approved publishing bills and other official documents on municipal web sites

Development issues

Voters in Steamboat Springs rejected an already approved annexation

In Buena Vista, voters upheld an annexation

Montrose voters approved the creation of a downtown development authority (there are approximately a dozen of these in the state)

Pagosa Springs’ voters approved relaxing certain restrictions on large retail development

Gilcrest voters approved the town’s operation of a high speed internet service

Hooper voters approved an ordinance regulating animals inside the town’s limits

Crestone voters turned down a proposal to allow tavern licenses

Marijuana

Nederland voters approved the removal of possession penalties over the age of 21

Fruita voters approved a 5 percent sales tax on dispensary products

Windsor’s voters approved a dispensary prohibition ordinance

CML is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established in 1923 and represents the interests of 264 cities and towns. For more information please visit www.cml.org or call 303-831-6411.