OUR VIEW: Say 'no' to 60, 61 & 101

They go beyond traditional checks

September 29, 2010 7:15 PM

Wayne Laugesen

For the editorial board, Opinion - Colorado Springs Gazette

". . . The problem with 60, 61 and 101 is the fact they go beyond traditional measures to keep government in check. A web site of charts and data promoting the measures, COtaxreforms.com , puts to rest any idea these are simple one-sentence ideas. The ballot wording is simple enough, but the wide-ranging consequences might be dire for state and local governments. . . ."

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/opinion/say-105423-view-.html#ixzz119WZahh6

Business, education leaders oppose 60, 61 and 101

by Amy Gillentine

Published: September 22,201, Colorado Springs Business Journal

If three ballot initiatives aimed at cutting taxes and limiting government borrowing pass, the state could lose 73,000 jobs, including 8,000 teachers.

That’s the dire word from a coalition of teachers’ unions, business leaders and economic development officials lined up to opposed Amendments 60 and 61, and Proposition 101.

“There has never been a greater threat to our economic viability and collective ability to attract and retain quality jobs…” the news release said.

If all three measures pass, income taxes will be cut by 25 percent, school taxes will be reduced by 50 percent and car fees will be nearly eliminated. That will mean a $4.2 billion cut in the state and local government budget and governments will be unable to borrow money for long term, infrastructure projects, the release said.

The Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. joins with 38 other organizations to oppose the three measures, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, Bibliophiles United, CASA of the Pikes Peak Region, Cheyenne Mountain School District 12, Citizen’s Project, The Colorado Springs Police Protective Association.
 

Pikes Peak Genealogical Society President Urges NO Vote on 60, 61, 101

A Message from the President, by John Putnam

Pikes Peak Genealogical Society Newsletter,
Volume 30, Number 4, October-December 2010

There is no question that we are living in interesting times. With the continued recessionary effects, we as individuals and our government leaders continue to look for solutions to either solve our current challenges or to soften them. Many of us are navigating these daunting issues for the first time.

For the past year as your president, I have reported the many good things about PPGS and our ability to sustain ourselves in these interesting times. Unfortunately, there is one very serious threat on the horizon on which I would like to comment – the potential impacts that Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 will have on the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD), our strategic partner. As the fall election campaign heats up, I am sure the written and media coverage on these ballot issues will overwhelm us. It is not my intent to discuss the specifics of each of the three issues, but rather to share with you the estimated impact these could have on PPLD.

A Letter Pueblo City-County Library Employees from Jon Walker

Published by Valerie Horton on July 9, 2010, Colorado Libraries blog

The Bruce proposals are commonly known as Amendment 60, Amendment 61, and Proposition 101. If passed by the voters, the Bruce ballot issues will amend the state constitution and set law to severely cut taxes and slash revenues for nearly all public entities in Colorado, including our libraries in Pueblo County. If the Bruce referenda pass, taxes for libraries will be chopped by as much as nearly one-third in 2011 with more cuts in the years to come. This will result in striking reductions to library services. For example, if these referenda pass, we can balance the library budget by doing all these things:
Permanently close the Barkman Library
Permanently close the Lamb Library
Permanently close the Pueblo West Library
Permanently close the Library @ the Y
Permanently close all Library Satellites and Outreach Services
Permanently close the InfoZone Museum
Reduce hours and services at the Rawlings Library [click here to read the entire letter]

Colorado Librarians, Many Others Fear Anti-Tax Ballot Measures Would Devastate Government

By Norman Oder Sep 2, 201, LibraryJournal.com
Public services in Colorado, including library services, could be devastated if three seemingly simple—and, to critics, complex and deceptive—tax rollback measures pass in the November 2 election. [click to read the entire article]

Prop 101 Could Force Reduced Hours for Elbert County Library District

Elbert County Library District, Board of Trustee Meeting, July 28, 2010, minutes state that:

If Proposition 101 passes, coupled with expected property tax shortfalls, serious budget cuts would likely be made in reducing hours of operation by approximately 32 hours per week, with a reduction in other Library services as yet to be determined.

Ballot measures would force library closures, lay-offs

From The Pueblo Chieftain, Posted: Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:00 am

By PETER ROPER

Two statewide ballot issues aimed at cutting property taxes and vehicle taxes would hit the Pueblo City-County Library District especially hard, possibly forcing the closure of its branches in Pueblo and Pueblo West

Library Executive Director Jon Walker attended a City Council work session Monday that focused on the impacts of Proposition 101 and Amendments 60 and 61. All three are on the November ballot and local governments are busy measuring what impact they would have on their budgets if voters approve the measures.

Walker told council that he already knew the facts — that the Pueblo library district would see revenues shrink by 30 percent, or roughly $2 million, next year. How the district would deal with that heavy loss of revenue is uncertain, but closing the district's three branch libraries would save about $1.9 million. [click to read the entire article]

Pikes Peak Library District Board Opposes Proposition 101, Amendment 60, and Amendment 61

The Pikes Peak Library District Board of Trustees adopted a resolution urging the defeat of these tax measures on November 2, 2010. The Resolution appears in the approved minutes of their August 30, 2010, meeting.

[pg. 2] Resolution Against Proposition 101, Amendment 60, and Amendment 61

Whereas, the cumulative and drastic effect of these three measures would cut operating revenues to the Pikes Peak Library District by approximately $7.9 million in 2011 alone, a reduction of existing library services to El Paso County residents by almost 30%; and,

Whereas, Proposition 101 reduces specific ownership taxes (vehicle registration fees), which would result in an approximate 9% loss in operating funds by 2014 for the Pikes Peak Library District; and,

Whereas, Amendment 60 would reduce existing property taxes through multiple provisions, which could result in an estimated loss of $7.3 million in 2011; and,
Whereas, Amendment 61 would prohibit borrowing or long-term debt of any kind, as well as potentially limit leases of facilities and copiers, thereby seriously limiting the Library District in its ability to provide and maintain adequate facilities and equipment for library services; and,

Whereas, these three initiatives would slash $1 billion annually in state taxes; would roll back half of all school property taxes statewide; and would devastate local and state services in their ability to meet the needs of constituents, which would negatively impact our economy and quality of life.

Now, therefore, the Pikes Peak Library District Board of Trustees, in view of its fiduciary responsibilities to provide adequate library services for the community, does hereby vehemently oppose the three statewide ballot measures known as Proposition 101, Amendment 60, and Amendment 61; does hereby urge library users to become aware of the potential devastating impact of these three measures on libraries, schools, and other significant services statewide; and does hereby urge the defeat of these measures on November 2, 2010.

Adopted, this 30th day of August, 2010.

Attest:
President, Lynne Telford
Secretary/Treasurer, John Wilson

Douglas County Libraries Could Face $12.3 Million In Lost Revenues

Below is an excerpt from the minutes from the Douglas County Libraries, Board of Trustees Meeting, July 15, 2010, Lone Tree Library, Lone Tree, CO.

[pg. 5] 2010 Ballot Issues

[Douglas County Libraries Executive Director Jamie] LaRue said Proposition 101 would decrease DCL motor vehicle revenues from $1.4 million to less than $10,000, while Amendment 60 would decrease property tax revenues from $19 million to $8 million. He said Amendment 61 would have no major impact on the district, as DCL does not carry any debt and is not subject to the enforcement of multi-year rental contracts, but that it could affect other multi-year contracts, like copy machine lease purchase agreements. Weston recommended that the resolution cite the specific monetary impacts of the measures, and paint a clear picture of the services patrons would lose.

LaRue concluded that if the measures pass, DCL will face two choices: moving to regional services and closing its smaller libraries, or keeping all of the facilities open part-time. He said the first approach offers a greater return on investment, but that the Board would face significant pressure to keep all of the facilities open.

Colorado's Libraries & Museums in Danger

Colorado's publicly-funded libraries and museums could be seriously hurt by the impacts of Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101. Reduced hours, and even closures could result from the passage of any of these ballot measures. Should all three pass in November, many of our our state's heritage resources will be in jeopardy. Become informed about the dangers of "tax relief." Learn more about the impact of these measures on libraries at Bibliophiles United. Learn more about the impact of these measures on other fundamental tax-supported services at Coloradans for Responsible Reform.