Posts tagged election information

Boulder City Council, at a meeting this evening, Tuesday, Aug. 16, approved several ballot questions to be considered by voters between now and Nov. 1, 2011. These include questions related to the following issues:

• ·         Creation of a local electric utility (municipalization) and the expansion and extension of the Utility Occupation Tax to raise interim funding;

• Issuance of bonds to fund capital improvement projects without raising taxes;
• Clean-up of Charter provisions; and
• Local resolution for an the amendment of the U.S. Constitution to abolish corporate personhood.

Municipalization

Council approved ballot language that will ask voters two separate questions related to the possible creation of a municipally run electric utility.

In general terms, one question asks voters to decide whether to authorize the creation of a locally run electric utility. Based on specific limitations in the ballot language and a related ordinance, council would not be permitted to issue bonds until all start-up costs are finalized, and only if customer rates would be no more than those charged by Xcel Energy at the time of acquisition.

Another question asks voters to consider extending and increasing the Utility Occupation Tax for a limited amount of time to fund the costs associated with determining those concrete start-up expenses and taking the interim steps to set up a local utility.

Capital Improvements

Council agreed to ask voters if the city should issue bonds of up to $49 million to catch up on significant deficiencies in its infrastructure. These capital improvement projects could include repairing and maintaining streets, structurally deficient bridges, repairing aging city facilities, and replacing outdated software systems.

If approved, the bonds would be paid for through existing revenues without any increase in any city tax.

Charter Changes

Council agreed to ask voters if they would approve updates to the Charter. The provisions would allow the clerk to rename city positions and departments to reflect the titles that are in use today; to change the fine from $100 to $1,000 for any violation of the Charter; to update election practices and terminology; and to amend the requirements for submitting initiative petitions to the city.

Corporate Personhood

Council agreed to ask voters if they will approve a measure that calls for the amendment of the U.S. Constitution to reflect that human beings, not corporations, are entitled to constitutional rights and that money (specifically in the form of political contributions) is not a form of speech.

Election Information

This year’s election is by mail-in ballot. Ballots will be mailed to active voters between Oct. 10 and Oct. 14. People will be able to return the ballots by mail or drop them off at Boulder County’s Election Division anytime after receiving them until 7 p.m. on Nov. 1.