Blog Posts

UPDATED: Wheat Ridge Ballot Question 2E – Nov/2016 Election

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Dear Wheat Ridge Neighbor,

I’ll be voting YES on the Wheat Ridge ballot question, 2E, this November. Wheat Ridge is in need of infrastructure investment. The sales tax is a sunset sales tax of 1/2 penny for 12 years. The projects include Wadsworth reconstruction, Anderson Park improvements, Gold Line in Wheat Ridge improvements (TOD site) and public improvements as well at Clear Creek Crossing (the Cabelas site) to help spur new development projects at that location. For example, on a $100 purchase the additional sales tax would be 50 cents.

Additionally, if the temporary sales tax is approved by the voters, the City will be tracking the additional funds (revenue and expense) through a special fund and/or a new money market/checking account. The City will also be working with bond counsel to manage the funds and financing. This is a very transparent and accountable process that was used when the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center was built and the City Hall addition was built. Both of those projects were approved by the voters as well for a temporary sales tax increase. Wheat Ridge has a great track record of collecting the funds and building the projects.

–  Jerry DiTullio, City Treasurer and former Mayor/City Council

Wheat Ridge Election Forum Video – 2016

Questions? YES Wheat Ridge Website

Questions? Wadsworth Blvd. Reconstruction

Audio from Treasurer Jerry DiTullio

 

Ballot Language:

SHALL THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE DEBT INCREASE BY UP TO 33,000,000, WITH A REPAYMENT COST OF LESS THAN $38,500,000, AND SHALL THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE TAXES BE INCREASED BY UP TO 3,700,000 ANNUALLY IN THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR, AND BY WHATEVER ADDITIONAL AMOUNT IS RECEIVED FOR 11 YEARS THEREAFTER, WITHOUT INCREASING PROPERTY TAX, BY INCREASING THE RATE OF SALES AND USE TAX BY 1/2 CENT PER DOLLAR, WITH THE PROCEEDS TO BE USED ONLY FOR THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC INVESTMENTS:

WADSWORTH BOULEVARD RECONSTRUCTION – 35th Ave TO INTERSTATE-70 RECONSTRUCTION OF WADSWORTH BOULEVARD TO PROVIDE AN IMPROVED MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION FACILITY AND STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS, TO RELIEVE AND MITIGATE SEVERE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND FACILITATE REDEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES – ESTIMATED CITY SHARE OF TOTAL PROJECT COST, $ 7,000,000

WHEAT RIDGE – WARD COMMUTER RAIL STATION AREA
CONSTRUCTION OF STREET, BICYCLE / PEDESTRIAN, PUBLIC AMENITIES AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC GROWTH AND FACILITATE REDEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE GOLD LINE STATION INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RECONSTRUCTION OF RIDGE ROAD, 52No AVENUE AND TABOR STREET, A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE WARD ROAD / RIDGE ROAD INTERSECTION AND A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS LINKING THE JOB CENTERS TO THE SOUTH – ESTIMATED CITY SHARE OF TOTAL PROJECT COST $12,000,000

CLEAR CREEK CROSSING – MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT SITE ON THE WEST SIDE OF 1-70 AT 38TH AND YOUNGFIELD
CONSTRUCTION OF ON AND OFF HOOK RAMPS FROM INTERSTATE 1-70 INTO THE CLEAR CREEK CROSSING DEVELOPMENT TO RELIEVE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND IMPROVE VEHICULAR ACCESS AND TO FACILITATE REDEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN A NEW MIXED-USED, SALES TAX GENERATING REDEVELOPMENT SITE – ESTIMATED CITY SHARE OF TOTAL PROJECT COST $10,000,000

ANDERSON PARK IMPROVEMENTS – IMPROVEMENTS TO ANDERSON PARK TO PROVIDE UPGRADED, RENOVATED AMENITIES AND FACILITIES THAT ENHANCE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND MEET THE CURRENT NEEDS OF PARK AND FACILITY USERS AND TO REDUCE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR COSTS; RENOVATIONS TO INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, RENOVATION OF THE ANDERSON BUILDING AND OUTDOOR POOL LOCKER ROOMS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO SURROUNDING PARK AMENITIES – ESTIMATED PROJECT COST $4,000,000

SUCH INCREASE IN THE SALES AND USE TAX RATE TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 1, 2017 AND END WHEN REVENUES FROM SUCH SALES AND USE TAX RATE INCREASE REACH $38,500,000 OR ON DECEMBER 31 , 2028.

Treasurer