2 Lone Tree Voice
November 8, 2018N
Voters reject 73, 112, transportation measures STAFF REPORT
Voters have said “nay” on many of the state’s most contentious ballot issues. Amendment 73 was failing with about 44.2 percent of voters (775,144 votes) favoring the measure that would raise income tax on a graduate scale for people making more than $150,000. The amendment would also raise the corporate income tax to 6 percent. The tide running against it was at 55.8 percent (977,438 votes). Both Proposition 109 and 110 have around 60 percent of the voters saying no. The propositions were looking to raise funds for road
projects. Proposition 109 would do so by allowing the state to borrow up to $3.5 billion with a total repayment of up to $5.2 million. Proposition 110 would raise the funds through a sales tax increase, which would bring the state sales tax up to 3.52 percent for the next 20 years. Perhaps the state’s most contested issue, Proposition 112, has nearly 57 percent of voters (1,020,058) saying no to the measure that would bar oil and gas developments within 2,500 feet of a private residence or highoccupancy structure. Here are the early results for state ballot issues as of
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By about 1 a.m., the latest results showed the yes votes for the mill levy measure had increased to 52.9 percent and to 51.5 percent for the bond, with nearly 148,000 votes counted in both questions. The results are still not final and are unofficial, though it’s likely they represent the vast majority of ballots cast. Should both tax increases pass, a homeowner with a home valued at $470,00 would pay an additional $208 a year, or $17.33 a month. Ballot Issue 5A, the mill levy override, would go toward teacher pay and school programs. Ballot Issue 5B, the bond, would go toward urgent building needs, new construction, transportation, career technical education and security. Early results of the election point to a new era in a school district that hadn’t seen a tax measure pass in 12 years. Ballot measures on school funding were brought before Douglas County voters in 2008 and 2011, but voters rejected them. “The future of our schools depends
10:17 p.m. on Election Night. Amendment 73 Yes: 44 percent (780,400) No: 56 percent (982,288) Transportation: Proposition 109 and 110 Proposition 109 Yes: 39 percent (678,770) No: 61 percent (1,072,339) Proposition 110 Yes: 40 percent (709,829) No: 60 percent (1,050,023) Proposition 112 Yes: 43 percent (769,241) No: 57 percent (1,020,158) The following are unofficial, preliminary results for the other statewide ballot issues: Amendment A Yes: 65 percent (1,130,711) No: 35 percent (608,668) Amendment V
on these passing,” district parent Amy McDowell said. “I feel hopeful that the community values education and sees the worth of these measures.” The last time Douglas County passed a local bond or mill levy override was in 2006. Jefferson County Public Schools passed a measure in 2012 and Cherry Creek School District passed a measure in 2016. Littleton Public Schools passed a mill levy override in 2010 and a bond measure in 2013. The difference in funding has caused inequities in teacher pay across county lines. The average teacher salary for the 2017-18 school year at Jefferson County Public Schools was $57,154, according to the Colorado Department of Education. Cherry Creek’s was $71,711 and Littleton’s was $66,399. Douglas County’s was $53,080. Of the mill levy override funds, $9 million would go toward school-level funding, including special education, gifted and talented programs and career- or trade-focused programming; $8 million would go toward charter schools; $6 million toward allocating a counselor to all elementary schools and lowering the rate at middle and high schools from one counselor per
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Yes: 35 percent (619,928) No: 65 percent (1,161,341) Amendment W Yes: 53 percent (909,026) No: 47 percent (798,460) Amendment X Yes: 61 percent (1,034,999) No: 39 percent (669,413) Amendment Y Yes: 71 percent (1,244,663) No: 29 percent (502,080) Amendment Z Yes: 71 percent (1,138,038) No: 29 percent (504,397) Amendment 74 Yes: 46 percent (826,888) No: 54 percent (952,207) Amendment 75 Yes: 34 percent (588,509) No: 66 percent (1,149,211) Proposition 111 Yes: 77 percent (1,344,014) No: 23 percent (408,646)
350 students to one counselor per 250 students; and $17 million would go toward pay gaps. Over the next five years, the school district needs between $152 million and $200 million to address all Tier 1 items, according to an executive summary of the 2018-19 Master Capital Plan. Tier 1 items are building components that compromise school safety and risk school closure, such as a roof, fire alarm system, heating and cooling system, or generator. Within the $250 million bond, $150 million would go toward Tier 1 and additional high-priority Tier 2 needs, which are critical building items that affect school programming, such as an athletic field. If the bond passes when final votes are tallied, 15 percent to 20 percent of the funds would go toward critical repairs at Douglas County High School, the district’s oldest high school, as well as a 25,000-square-foot addition to Castle View High School, which is over capacity by 364 students. “For the kids in Castle Rock,” said Douglas County High Principal Tony Kappas, also at the watch party, “it’s (like) Christmas.” Capital reinvestments would account for $61 million of the bond. Of that amount, an estimated $3 million to $9 million would go toward charter school safety and Tier 1 needs. And $39 million would go toward career and technical education and new construction. In the next five years, the district forecasts the need for two new bus terminals, a high school in Lone Tree and an elementary school in Parker. As the results of the election trickled in, Douglas County Superintendent Thomas Tucker, wearing a campaign T-shirt supporting 5A and 5B, mingled with parents and board members. He remained “cautiously optimistic.” “I am extremely honored to serve in a community that is putting education for our young people first,” Tucker said.
Election results for state Legislature and county offices The following are unofficial, preliminary results from the Nov. 6 election in races for the state Legislature and county offices posted shortly before 1 a.m. Nov. 7: State Senate District 30 Chris Holbert (Republican): 53.3 percent Julia Varnell-Sarjeant (Democrat): 41.4 percent Steve Peterson (Independent): 5.4 percent State House District 39 Mark Baisley (Republican): 61.6 percent Kamala Vanderkolk (Democrat): 36.0 percent Tony Gross (Libertarian): 2.4 percent State House District 43 Kevin Van Winkle (Republican): 53.7 percent Barrett Rothe (Democrat): 44.4 percent Scott Wagner (Unity): 1.9 percent State House District 44 Kim Ransom (Republican): 58.3 percent Simone Aiken (Democrat): 41.7 percent State House District 45 Patrick Neville (Republican): 62.3 percent Danielle Kombo (Democrat): 37.7 percent County commissioner, District 1 Abe Laydon (Republican): 60.6 percent Mary Lynch (Democrat): 39.4 percent County clerk and recorder Merlin Klotz (Republican): 60.3 percent Carol Johnson (Democrat): 39.7 percent County treasurer Dave Gill (Republican): 60.45 percent Angie Hicks (Democrat): 39.55 percent County assessor Lisa Frizell (Republican): 63.6 percent Shenika Carter (Democrat): 36.4 percent County coroner Jill Romann (Republican): 63.6 percent Sydney Ludwick (Democrat): 36.4 percent Sheriff Tony Spurlock (Republican, unopposed): 100 percent Surveyor Robert Snodgrass (Republican, unopposed): 100 percent