Denver Voters Face 12 Issues on Bans, Taxes and Unions

Denver City and County Building | Photo via goackpacking.com

It is relatively easy to get on the Denver ballot and City Council is inclined to pass tax and interest groups’ proposals on to the voters. The 2024 list is long and will have considerable impact on the cost and operation of local government. Some businesses could be ended.

Taxes

• Ballot Issue 2Q – Raise its sales tax by 0.34% for Denver Health. $70 million per year
• Ballot Issue 2R – The proposal would increase the sales and use tax rate by 0.5% from 8.81% to 9.31%. $100 million per year for housing
• Ballot Issue 4A – Denver Public Schools increase its debt by $975 million
• Ballot Issue 6A – Denver increase its debt by $570 million
• Ballot Issue 7A – Regional Transportation District TABOR override

Unions

• Ballot Issue 2U – Allow some city workers to participate in collective bargaining
• Ballot Issue 2V – Allow for binding arbitration for firefighters
• Ballot Issue 2T – Remove the requirement that police officers and firefighters be United States citizens

Bans

• Initiated Ordinance 308 – Ban fur manufacturing, displaying, trading or selling
  
• Initiated Ordinance 309 – Ban slaughterhouses

Miscellaneous

• Ballot Issue 2S – Add the Agency of Human Rights and Community Partnerships as a cabinet department
  
• Ballot Issue 2W – Remove the requirement that the City Council vote on elected official salaries

At this point the two bans and the Mayor’s housing tax have generated the most opposition.