2026 guide › Measures › 2K
City of Boulder ballot measure 2K · 2026
2K Building Boulder Together: Recreation and Safety Bond
- A YES vote means
- Authorize up to $400 million in general-obligation debt and a property-tax levy to repay it, within the ballot's stated annual tax and total repayment ceilings.
- A NO vote means
- Do not authorize this bond and its associated property-tax increase; existing building needs would still have to be addressed through other choices or existing funds.
In plain words
This would authorize up to $400 million in city borrowing, repaid with additional property taxes, for recreation and public-safety buildings and other capital projects. The ballot lists example projects, including both recreation centers, fire stations, a police/911 building, the Penfield Tate II building and the Municipal Service Center; exact allocations are not fixed in the ballot question. The maximum repayment with financing costs is $650 million. The city's project guide identifies intended projects and estimated costs, not a binding project-by-project appropriation.
Money
Debt cap $400 million, maximum total repayment $650 million, and annual tax increase up to $32.5 million. The city estimates that, if it borrowed the full $400 million, a $1 million residential property would pay about $400 more each year for roughly 20 years; borrowing less or in stages changes the tax impact. The listed project estimates total more than $400 million, so not every estimate is guaranteed to be fully covered by this bond. source
How it got on the ballot
Council unanimously referred the bond at its August 6 meeting, then scheduled final ballot wording with an explicit lap pool for August 20; the current city ballot guide carries that amended language. The precise final-reading roll call has not been independently confirmed here. source
Full ballot text
Official text on the City of Boulder website
Read the full ballot wording here
Shall City of Boulder debt be increased up to $400,000,000, with a maximum repayment cost up to $650,000,000, and shall city taxes be increased up to $32,500,000 annually for the purpose of financing the construction, renovation, or replacement of community recreation, safety infrastructure, and other capital projects, such as: (I) the South Boulder Recreation Center, including a lap pool; (II) the North Boulder Recreation Center, including aquatics amenities and improvements needed to co-locate West Age Well Senior Center; (III) fire stations (to sustain emergency and wildfire response capabilities); (IV) a new Public Safety Building for police and 911 services; (V) Penfield Tate II Municipal Building; and (VI) the Municipal Service Center (to support infrastructure services, such as snow removal, utility maintenance, and city street operations); In order to support recreation, safety, and critical infrastructure needs for community members of all ages; Through the issuance and payment of general obligation debt, with such debt containing such terms, not inconsistent herewith, as the City Council may determine; and in connection therewith, Shall ad valorem property taxes be levied without limitation as to the rate, but not more than the amounts listed above, to generate an amount sufficient in each year to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such debt or any refunding debt (or to create a reserve for such payment); and Shall the proceeds of such debt and reserves and the revenues from such taxes and any investment income earned from such proceeds and revenues be collected and spent without limitation or condition as a voter-approved revenue change and an exception to the limits that would otherwise apply under article x, section 20 of the Colorado constitution or any other law?
Who supports it, who opposes it
What the labels on each endorsement mean
- Endorser's own statement
- The organization or person announced it themselves (their site, their press release, or a news story reprinting that release).
- “X campaign lists Y”
- Only the candidate's (or ballot campaign's) own website says so. We didn't find the endorser saying it. It may be true, but it is the campaign's claim.
- City filing
- A committee's registration with the city clerk names the candidate or measure it supports.
- News listing
- A news outlet lists the endorsement, but we did not find the endorser's own statement.
Titles (e.g. “U.S. Representative”) are as printed on the cited page and describe the person, not an endorsement by their office. A blank title means the source did not give one.
Supports
- Boulder ProgressivesEndorser's own statement. Our 2026 ballot measure positions (Boulder Progressives) · 2026-09-16
Opposes
- KC Becker, former Colorado House speakerEndorser's own statement. KC Becker: Boulder deserves a better bond proposal, not a $400 million blank check (opinion, Boulder Reporting Lab) · 2026-08-30
- Boulder ChamberEndorser's own statement. Boulder Chamber takes measured approach to 2026 ballot measures (Boulder Chamber) · 2026-09-09
- Downtown Boulder PartnershipEndorser's own statement. Election 2026 (Downtown Boulder Partnership)
- No on 2K: Demand Fiscal ResponsibilityCity filing. Committee registration with the city clerk names this. Statement of Organization: No on 2K · 2026-09-17
- PLAN-Boulder CountyEndorser's own statement. 2026 Ballot Issue Endorsements · 2026-09-27
What reporters said about the candidates
Boulder Reporting Lab reported (2026-08-30): All five incumbent candidates support the measure, citing more than $400 million in deferred maintenance; Sam Fuqua and Jamillah Richmond also support it. Meet the 19 candidates running for Boulder mayor and City Council in 2026 (BRL) This is the reporter's summary, not each candidate's own answer, so we don't mark anyone yes or no from it.
Boulder Reporting Lab reported (2026-08-30): Many challengers oppose the measure, arguing voters have not received enough information about how the money would be spent. Meet the 19 candidates running for Boulder mayor and City Council in 2026 (BRL) This is the reporter's summary, not each candidate's own answer, so we don't mark anyone yes or no from it.
What candidates said at forums
Candidates' own words when asked about 2K at 2026 forums, in speaking order. We mark yes or no only when the candidate said it outright; otherwise read the quote. Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording.
Boulder Chamber forum · August 26, 2026
Asked: Lightning round: Boulder voters will consider authorizing up to $400 million in new debt paid through additional property taxes (recreation, public safety, other city facilities). Do you support this measure? (one-sentence explanation)
No yes/no label: Talks about other taxes; no yes/no on 2K in this quote.
with the progressive income tax, in tax and actually tax, we could triple our general fund costs. I have no problem with the tax
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:10:26 · 2026 | Boulder City Council Candidate Forum (Boulder Chamber, YouTube)
It's $650 million. It's not $400 million. There's another $250 million in interest that we have to pay a quarter billion.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:11:21 · 2026 | Boulder City Council Candidate Forum (Boulder Chamber, YouTube)
No yes/no label: Critical of the bond but does not say yes or no in these words.
No plan. No budget. No trust. It's nuts.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:11:36 · 2026 | Boulder City Council Candidate Forum (Boulder Chamber, YouTube)
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
Asked: Boulder voters are being asked to authorize $400 million in new debt through additional property taxes for recreation, public safety and other city facilities as part of ballot issue 2K. Do you support this measure? Why or why not?
No on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below.
Okay. Thank you. I do not support this bond measure.
Transcript note: Richmond was called twice; this is her second, complete answer.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 48:46 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below. Adds that she does not oppose the investment in recreation, public safety and facilities.
But this one I do oppose, but I don't oppose the investment that we want to be making in our recreation, our public safety, our municipal facilities.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 49:38 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No yes/no label: Says 'I do support this measure' and adds that she shares concerns. Not labelled because the answer is caveated; read the quote.
I do support this measure, but I also do share concerns.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 50:25 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm a no vote on this.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 51:28 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below.
I don't support the bond measure. And in fact, if I had been on city council, I would not have voted to submit the bond measure to the Boulder voters.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 52:29 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No yes/no label: Calls for a smaller, more targeted bond; no yes/no in this quote.
I think we need to go back to the community, get clear on our priorities, and then bring back a smaller, more targeted bond.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 54:21 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below. Adds he would support smaller, more targeted projects financed by debt.
I am against this particular bond measure, but I would be definitely for smaller, more targeted projects that were facilitated through debt.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 55:07 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below.
Opposed for all the reasons brought forward.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 55:19 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Yes on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below.
Yeah, I support the bond and was one of the members of council to put it on the ballot.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 56:22 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below.
I'm also a no on the issue.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 57:27 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No yes/no label: Says 'a reluctant yes, but a yes.' Not labelled because the answer is caveated; read the quote.
Yeah, I'm a reluctant yes, but a yes.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 58:13 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No yes/no label: Gives reasons; no yes/no in this quote.
One, we're going to have service cuts if we don't proceed with the funding
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 59:53 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Second, this sets a cap. We are already talking about $100 million off of the $400 million.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:00:04 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below.
I 100 percent do not support this measure.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:28:01 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
If we want to do a bond we need to bring it from the bottom up instead of having City Council propose the bond.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:28:29 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No yes/no label: Suggests a smaller first step; no yes/no in this quote.
I think we could get a lot of fixes for half and then two or four years come back and ask for the second half
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:29:21 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
In one measure, we are being asked to more than double it.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:30:09 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below.
are fully against it? So no.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:30:39 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No yes/no label: Critical of the debt; no yes/no in these words.
It would be financial suicide to take that amount of debt.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:30:52 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No yes/no label: Says she was initially a yes; her current position is not stated in this quote.
Initially, I was a yes to this $400 million bond
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:31:48 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
I realized that there's really a lack of community support and the need to do more trust building and collective buy-in.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:32:12 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Yes on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below.
So I do support the bond and here's why.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:32:49 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
construction cost inflation is going up higher than the rate of interest that we would be paying on the bond.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:33:07 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
What we don't know yet
- Final August 20 roll-call vote for 2K not independently confirmed from minutes; only the August 6 unanimous referral and final text are confirmed here.