Littleton pins down details on potential marijuana sales tax hike

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Littleton City Council pinned down more details about a potential ballot item, which could ask voters this November to approve an increase in the special retail tax for marijuana. During a study session on Aug. 8, council directed sta to draft the ballot measure which, if placed on the ballot and passed, would raise funds for the city’s “proactive public safety” and “mental health crisis response” resources, according to potential ballot language.

What would the funds be used for?

e goal of the funding would be to have more sta speci cally suited to respond to community needs related to mental health, depression, poverty, housing instability and substance use, according to city documents.

“We’re currently sta ed at a, basically, a minimum level for a reactive-type, traditional police response,” Littleton Police Chief Doug Stephens said at the meeting. “But as you all know, and you’ve all heard pretty regularly, the community wants more and expects more.”

He said the law enforcement profession has evolved over the last several years to be more proactive and service-oriented, focusing on longer-term problem-solving instead of just reacting to emergencies when they happen.

To continue this proactive work, he said, the city needs resources.

One example of Littleton’s shift towards proactive public safety is its recent partnership with AllHealth Network to provide co-responders. is program sends a licensed mental health practitioner to respond alongside law enforcement to higher level crisis calls, including mental health, substance use, homelessness and other welfare needs. ese options would result in a total city tax rate of either 11.25% or 11.75% on marijuana, which sta said would keep the tax rate competitive with others in the area. e total predicted cost of the public safety and mental health crisis response program improvements is $413,000. A special sales tax increase of 3% would raise $357,000 and a 3.5% increase would raise $416,000.

Littleton’s current partnership with AllHealth Network provides for one full-time co-responder. Potential funds from the increased marijuana retail tax could add a second coresponder and a full-time crisis case manager to the city’s response teams. e funds could also add two Littleton police o cers to speci cally work with mental health responders and to patrol trails and open spaces.

How much would the tax increase be?

Based on an analysis of special marijuana sales tax rates in nearby cities and discussion with some industry stakeholders, sta recommended a ballot measure proposing a special marijuana sales tax increase of 3% or 3.5%.

All present city councilmembers said they supported a 3.5% increase because it would meet the nancial need for the resources they hope to fund. Mayor Pro Tem Gretchen Rydin was absent from the meeting.

“It feels very justi able for what we’re funding,” District 3 Councilmember Stephen Barr said.

Sta will draft potential ballot language to be heard at a rst reading on Aug. 15 and a second reading and public hearing on Aug. 22 before o cially voting about putting it on the ballot.