Bell endorses Amendments 65 and S, Measure 2A

We are pleased to announce that The Bell Policy Center's Board of Directors has voted to endorse Colorado Amendments 65 and S, as well as Denver Measure 2A, three important items on this fall's ballot.

Download our complete ballot guide

Amendment S gives the governor more power to hire people in his or her administration by removing some positions from the protections of the state personnel system and grants the governor the power to dismiss members of the state personnel board. It also makes several other changes to the state's hiring process.

We support this amendment because we believe that those who serve the public should be given the flexibility to operate as effectively as possible. This particular amendment will expand the governor's ability to hire the most qualified employees for the job. We are also pleased that the input of state employees was taken into account during the drafting of the amendment.

Amendment 65 amends the state constitution to change state law from "encouraging campaign spending limits" to "establishing spending limits." It also  instructs Colorado's congressional delegation and the Colorado State Legislature to propose and support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that allows Congress and the states to limit campaign spending.

We support this amendment because we think that leveling the playing field of campaign finance is important to the health of our democracy. Amendment 65 represents a step in that direction.

Measure 2A allows the city of Denver to retain property tax revenues estimated to total $44 to $68 million annually that would otherwise be rebated to residents in the form of property tax credits. It also restores 6.2 mills to Denver's property tax rate that were cut in order to stay below the caps that TABOR imposed. The changes will be phased in over  a period of several years. At the end of the phase in-period, a typical Denver homeowner will pay about $111 more per year in property taxes. The additional revenue will be used to restore city services in six key areas: Children, libraries, public safety, streets, seniors and disabled people, and parks and open space.

We support this measure because ensuring that the public sector possesses adequate resources to deliver important services to citizens is at the core of our mission as an organization. This measure will improve the quality of life in Denver and make the city's overall tax structure less regressive for low-income residents. It will benefit low-income parents and their children by restoring child-care services for 3,000 low income children, funding free pool and recreation center access and doubling the number of children in after-school and summer programs. It will also benefit the elderly and disabled by increasing the city's property tax credit from $186 per year to $372 per year for 4,000 low-income senior citizens and people with disabilities.

Our board has voted to take no position on Amendment 64, concerning the regulation of marijuana. Our complete ballot guide can be downloaded from our website. We encourage you to share it with your friends and keep it handy when you vote.