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The Colorado River District is soliciting pro and con statements on its upcoming Taxpayer Bill of Rights (“TABOR”) ballot question.  The question will appear on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot.

Per Colorado state law, comments received will be summarized for inclusion in the TABOR ballot issue notice, which will be mailed to all registered voters in the River District’s boundaries. To be included in the summary, comments must address the specific ballot issue and include the submitter’s name, signature and the address where they are registered to vote. Only comments filed by persons eligible to vote on the issue are required to be summarized for the ballot issue notice.

Pro and con statements can be mailed to the CRWCD c/o Ian Philips, P.O. Box 1120, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601; or emailed to iphilips@crwcd.org . Statements must be received no later than noon on Sept. 18; postmarks do not count.

The ballot language is as follows:

Ballot Issue 7A: Colorado River Water Conservation District

SHALL COLORADO RIVER WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT, TAXES BE INCREASED BY AN AMOUNT UP TO $4,969,041 IN 2021 (WHICH INCREASE AMOUNTS TO APPROXIMATELY $1.90 IN 2021 FOR EVERY $100,000 IN RESIDENTIAL HOME VALUE), AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS AS ARE GENERATED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER FROM AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX LEVY OF 0.248 MILLS (FOR A TOTAL MILL LEVY OF 0.5 MILLS) TO ENABLE THE COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT TO PROTECT AND SAFEGUARD WESTERN COLORADO WATER BY:

• FIGHTING TO KEEP WATER ON THE WEST SLOPE;
• PROTECTING ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLIES FOR WEST SLOPE FARMERS AND RANCHERS;
• PROTECTING SUSTAINABLE DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES FOR WEST SLOPE COMMUNITIES; AND
• PROTECTING FISH, WILDLIFE, AND RECREATION BY MAINTAINING RIVER LEVELS AND WATER QUALITY;

PROVIDED THAT THE DISTRICT WILL NOT UTILIZE THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING TO FALLOW IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE; WITH SUCH EXPENDITURES REPORTED TO THE PUBLIC IN AN ANNUALLY PUBLISHED INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDIT; AND SHALL ALL REVENUES RECEIVED BY THE DISTRICT IN 2021 AND EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR BE COLLECTED, RETAINED AND SPENT NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LIMITS PROVIDED BY LAW?