The Arvada Chamber of Commerce is committed to advocating for a favorable business climate at the local, regional, and state level. These important conversations begin with our Government Affairs Committee, which reviews the impacts and challenges associated with proposed legislation through research and presentations completed by the proponents and opposition. This process guides any recommendations and feedback that needs to be shared with our Board of Directors as they evaluate what position the Arvada Chamber should take. The questions on the 2019 Ballot created a robust discussion amongst our Government Affairs Committee and Board of Directors as the opportunities for positive community impact were paramount, but the impact on business was felt. We encourage each of our local businesses to review the below-outlined information and determine the impacts for your business.
THE ISSUES
Jefferson County Ballot Measure 1A
If Ballot Issue 1A is passed, taxpayers would opt out of TABOR for seven years, allowing Jefferson County to raise property taxes, and get out of debt. The county argues it is hurting financially, saying it has a $16 million budget shortfall that it desperately needs to make up. The revenue will be used to fund the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, maintenance for roads, bridges, and other new transportation improvements.
Arguments For
- Reinvesting these dollars will support critical services, including funding for fire mitigation efforts, the repair, and maintenance of the county’s vital transportation infrastructure, adequate jail beds, and patrol personnel to keep our communities safe.
- Jefferson County has seen a 30% increase in crime and a 9% increase in the jail population over the course of the last four years. Cuts to the 2020 budget will result in the elimination of 288 jail beds, putting more felons out on the streets, and cuts to the District Attorney’s office, with corresponding cuts to justice services.
- The cost to businesses is estimated to be $9 per month per $100,000 of business property value. Proponents say that’s a small price to pay to preserve the safety, quality of life and health and well being of more than 580,000 Jeffco residents.
- Additional resource: keepjeffcosafe.com
Arguments Against
- Jefferson County currently is allowed to increase spending nearly 4%, but many households don’t see a 4% increase in income. Opponents say this is a spending problem, not a revenue problem.
- Issue 1A drives up cost of housing for homeowners and renters with an 18% county property tax increase.
- Issue 1A hits business property owners four times as hard as residential property owners. Opponents of the measure say additional costs will be passed on to consumers; increasing cost of goods and services. Issue 1A may hit us twice with a higher cost of living.
- Additional resource: jeffcotaxhike.com
Colorado Proposition CC
Proposition CC asks voters to allow the state to keep money that would normally be returned to taxpayers because it exceeds revenue caps set in the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The excess funds would be split evenly between transportation, K-12 education and colleges.
Arguments For
- This proposal will allow further investment in Colorado without raising taxes by allowing the State to keep the money it already collects. Higher Education, education and transportation will benefit from any additional revenue. These three areas are designated by legislation to receive this critical funding.
- This proposal preserves the citizens’ right to vote on any new tax increases. Because voter approval is required on any new tax proposals, state governments spending will remain limited. Many counties, cities and school districts have previously adopted similar measures as in this proposal, including 96% of school districts.
- Additional resource: yesonpropcc.com
Arguments Against
- This proposal will ask voters to permanently eliminate any future refunds to taxpayers as is currently required in the state constitution and will result in a tax increase. Opponents say this will cause the government to expand more rapidly.
- While education and transportation may benefit from this proposal, the legislature has not outlined any specific projects. The legislature could shift funds to other programs in future years rather than education and transportation.
- Additional resource: votenooncc.com
Colorado Proposition DD
Proposition DD legalizes sports betting (in-person and online) in Colorado and places a 10 percent tax on it. The funds generated from the tax will help fund Colorado’s Water Plan. A small portion of the revenue from the tax will be used to regulate and enforce gaming, but the vast majority of the proceeds – 93 percent in all – will be used to protect and preserve Colorado’s water needs.
Why the Arvada Chamber supports Proposition DD:
Water is a scarce resource in Colorado, and demand will continue to increase as the state’s population grows. Colorado’s economy and way of life, from urban cities to agricultural communities, will suffer if the state cannot meet its water demands. It is critical for Colorado to fund the water plan, and a tax paid only by casinos is a better way than a tax on the public as a whole. Colorado’s casinos support the ballot initiative and the Colorado Gaming Association worked the bill’s House sponsors to find a workable level of taxation. The tax is estimated to generate $29 million annually, substantially more than the $7 million to $9 million the Colorado Department of Natural Resources usually gets.
THE CANDIDATES
Mayor
Marc Williams
Website | Facebook | Arvada Press Q&A
Current mayor of Arvada, first elected in 2011, and running for re-election this year after serving two terms as mayor. Williams also served three terms as a council member at-large, elected in 1999.
Dave Palm
Website | Facebook | Arvada Press Q&A
Small business owner in Arvada and serves on the Arvada Historical Society. Palm ran for the at-large seat in 2017.
Harriet Hall
Website | Facebook | Arvada Press Q&A
Acted as chief executive officer and president at the Jefferson Center for Mental Health for 34 years. She is a member of the Arvada Sustainability Advisory Committee and the Community Table Board of Directors.
City Council District 2
Ethan Lutz
Website | Facebook | Arvada Press Q&A
Arvada resident who currently works as a service leader at an oilfield service company.
T.O. Owens
Website | Facebook | Arvada Press Q&A
Acts as chairman of the city’s planning commission and served eight years on the Arvada Board of Adjustment.
Lauren Simpson
Website | Facebook | Arvada Press Q&A
Works as a foreign policy and diplomacy officer for the Canadian government and is president of the Jefferson County Young Democrats.
City Council District 2
David Jones
Website | Facebook | Arvada Press Q&A
Currently holds the district 4 position after his election in 2015. Jones serves on a number of city committees, including the Arvada Fire Protection District Coordinating Committee and Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority.
Jordan Hohenstein
Website | Facebook | Arvada Press Q&A
Lived in Arvada for nearly 30 years, volunteered with Barack Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaigns and ran for Arvada’s at-large seat in 2017.
City Council At Large
Jeffrey Payne Cannon
Website | Facebook | Arvada Press Q&A
Previously served as the city’s planning commissioner and as a member of the Arvada Junior Chamber Foundation Board of Directors.
Robert “Bob” Fifer
Website | Facebook | Arvada Press Q&A
Running for a third term as a councilmember at-large, first elected in 2011. Fifer served as mayor pro tem from 2015 through 2017 and is a member of several committees, including the Adams County Economic Development Association and the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG).
School Board District 3
Stephanie Schooley
Website | Arvada Press Article
A former president and current member of the Stober Elementary PTA, Stephanie Schooley has spent years brainstorming ways the PTA can help its community improve.
Robert Applegate
Website | Arvada Press Article
Applegate is an Applewood resident and Jeffco parent who works as an energy market analyst. He has been a member of the Welchester Elementary PTA and was coordinator of the school’s Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) program. Additionally, he has served as a board member for the Golden Schools Foundation, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science Development Steering Committee and Think 360 Arts for Learning.
School Board District 4
Joan Chavez Lee
Website | Arvada Press article
A former Jeffco teacher and principal, and as a former Jeffco parent and now grandparent, Joan Chavez Lee believes that she has the experience and perspective that will allow her to be a positive and collaborative member of the Jeffco School Board.
Susan Miller
Website | Arvada Press article
In addition to her professional experience, Miller had four children go through Jeffco neighborhood schools and was very involved as a volunteer. She chaired the Wheat Ridge High School Accountability Committee, was president of its PTSA, and served on district committees.
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