City measures
2026
Building Boulder Together: Recreation and Safety Bond
Authorizes up to $400 million of general-obligation debt (maximum repayment cost $650 million) repaid by a new property tax, up to $32.5 million a year. City example: about $400 a year on a $1 million home if the full…
Charter debt-limit calculation (actual vs. assessed value)
Amends Charter §97 so the city’s debt limit is 3% of the actual value of taxable property, not the assessed value. City says this matches how most Colorado municipalities and the state calculate the cap, and would allow…
Collective bargaining for firefighters (new Charter §73)
Moves full-time firefighters’ collective-bargaining rights from contract/ordinance into the charter. Bargain over safety, wages, benefits, and terms of employment except reserved management rights. Impasse: non-binding…
Downtown Development Authority referral
Would have asked district electors (residents, property owners, qualified business tenants inside a downtown / Civic Area / University Hill boundary — city estimated ~2,500 electors) to form a 30-year DDA with…
Vacancy excise tax
About $4,000 a year on a residential property occupied 183 days or fewer, CPI-adjusted, never below $4,000, never above $7,000. Estimated $6 million in 2028, the first full collection year. Revenue is general city…
2025
2A: Community, Culture, Resilience, and Safety (CCRS) tax extension
Extends the existing 0.3% CCRS sales and use tax in perpetuity (it had been set to expire Dec 31 2036) without raising the rate. Funds capital work: rec centers, fire/police stations, paths, bridges, open space…
2B: CCRS tax debt authorization
Authorizes up to $262 million principal ($350 million maximum repayment) payable solely from the CCRS tax extension, if 2A also passed. Companion to 2A.
2023
2A: City sales and use tax extension
Extends the existing 0.15% city sales and use tax from Dec 31 2024 to Dec 31 2044 without raising the rate. 50% general fund (fire, public safety, homeless services, etc.), 50% arts, culture, and heritage.
2B: Elections administrative charter cleanup
Amends charter sections 27, 37, 39, 46 and 57 on election administration: mayor/council petitions carried outside the municipal building, extra clerk processing time, and a clarification that state law governs charter…
302: Safe Zones 4 Kids
Citizen initiative. Amends city code §8-3-21 to prioritize removal of already-prohibited tents, temporary structures, and propane tanks within 500 feet of a school or 50 feet of a multi-use path or sidewalk.
2021
2I: Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety tax extension
Extends the 0.3% CCRS sales and use tax from Dec 31 2021 to Dec 31 2036 without raising the rate, for capital projects.
2J: CCRS bond issuance
Bonds paid from the 2I tax extension.
300: Bedrooms Are For People (occupancy limits)
Would have allowed occupancy of unrelated adults equal to legal bedrooms plus one, if health and safety codes were met. Replaced the citywide cap of 3 (or 4 in some areas).
301: Humane Clothing Act (fur sale ban)
Prohibits sale and manufacture for sale of certain fur products, with exemptions.
302: Let the Voters Decide on Annexation of CU South
Would have required voter approval of any CU South annexation agreement before city utilities (other than flood control) could be provided.
2019
2G: Tax on tobacco vaping products
Sales and use tax of up to 40% of the retail price of electronic smoking devices, first-year increase $2.5 million, for licensing, health promotion, and general city services.
2H: Sales and use tax extension for open space and Long’s Gardens
Extends the existing 0.15-cent transportation sales tax to Dec 31 2039 and redirects it to open-space maintenance, restoration, acquisition, and preservation, including a first-year conservation easement at Long’s…
2I: Middle-income housing program
Authorizes up to $10 million of city debt (maximum repayment $15 million), without raising taxes, for permanently affordable deed restrictions and loans to middle-income households buying homes in Boulder.
2017
2L: Utility occupation tax increase and extension
Continued funding for the city’s municipal-electric-utility effort (separation from Xcel). City-level certified yes 51.70%.
2M: 0.3 cents capital improvement tax extension
Extends the 0.3-cent capital improvement sales tax for city and nonprofit capital projects.
2N: Debt authority for capital improvement tax
Authorizes city debt paid from the 2M capital-improvement tax.
2O: Charter requirement for a vote before electric-construction debt
Requires another citizen vote before Boulder issues debt to build a municipal electric utility.
2P: Charter provision allowing executive sessions for municipalization
Would have allowed executive sessions on municipalization negotiations. Voters rejected it.
2Q: Charter clean-up
Administrative charter clean-up on the 2017 city ballot.