Amendment 61

Generations of Coloradans have invested in our state, making sure this is a great place to live and work. Highways were built. City Halls. Colleges and universities. Parks and open spaces. Libraries.

Now, it's our turn, and we shouldn't drop the ball. The type of investments that previous generations made for our benefit would not be possible under Amendment 61.

By Cherry Sokoloski
(Larimer County) North Forty News

There are three initiatives on the November ballot that, if passed, would severely cut income options for state and local governments, as well as numerous other entities.

The initiatives, Amendment 60, Amendment 61 and Proposition 101, would slash revenues for these entities and impact basic services such as water, sewer, schools and fire protection.

(This article also appeared in the Aspen Times.)

By John Stroud
Glenwood Springs Post Independent

GLENWOOD SPRINGS – If the economic downturn of the past couple of years was unplanned, then the trio of tax- and debt-limiting ballot initiatives that are on the Nov. 2 ballot in Colorado would amount to a "voter-approved recession."

That's according to an assessment of Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 by Rich Jones, director of policy and research for the Denver-based, non-partisan Bell Policy Center.

Staff members from the Bell will be traveling around Colorado this week talking about the Bad Three and what they will mean for Colorado. Thanks to the work of our local hosts, these events are open to the public.

Also, the Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable is hosting ballot tour events.

We hope you can attend, and please let others know about these events!

TUESDAY

Ballots will hit your mailboxes this week, so we have compiled a list of tools for evaluating the statewide amendments and propositions. We hope they are helpful, and we hope you will share them with others.

We'll start with our ballot guide. It offers a summary of all amendments and propositions on the ballot, the positions of both proponents and opponents and then the Bell's position on each proposal. It's clearer, more complete and more informative than other ballot guides we've seen.

Click on link for overview of Alamosa County's BEST schools projects

Click on pdf link for a detailed description of the Alamosa County-Sangre de Cristo RE-22J District BEST schools project

Click on pdf link for a detailed description of the Alamosa County-RE-11J District BEST schools project

By Pam Zubeck
Colorado Springs Independent

No doubt, there's bad blood between Republicans and Democrats in Colorado. But many opposing leaders have linked arms to combat what they call potentially devastating ballot measures that will cost the state jobs and eviscerate services.

Advanced by local anti-tax activist Douglas Bruce and his cohorts, Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 have prompted officials to send up flares about how much money governments would lose, and how education, public safety, transportation and capital projects would be gutted.