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WHEREAS, three measures (Proposition 101, and proposed Amendments 60 and 61) appearing on the November 2010 statewide ballot would significantly damage Colorado 's local governments, including special districts such as the Mountain View Fire Protection District from funding their most basic level of services related to public safety, fire prevention and protection, search and rescue, and emergency medical services; and;
WHEREAS, cumulatively these measures drastically limit government 's ability to construct new buildings and infrastructure, and;
WHEREAS, Proposition 101 reduces the vehicle registration fee (annual license plate fee) to a level which would devastate the State of Colorado 's ability to maintain safe roads and bridges for emergency vehicular access, by lowering the fee to the approximate assessment rate used nearly 90 years ago; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 101 would greatly reduce specific ownership taxes from their current rates to a phased-in maximum of $2.00 per vehicle which would have resulted in a reduction of more than $600,000.00 in revenues to this District in 2010; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 101 would freeze the surcharge on E-911 services at the 2009 level thus hampering the ability to maintain vital emergency dispatch services at the current 2010 level; and
WHEREAS, Amendment 60 would create the ability of citizens to initiate tax reductions for this District over the objection of the elected Board of Directors, which is a right not presently granted by either the Constitution or existing state statutes and is inconsistent with the representative form of government required by the constitution and state statutes; and
WHEREAS, Amendment 60 would overturn and automatically revoke the prior election decision made by the majority of the voters of this District which allows the District to retain all of its excess revenues, including revenues from all sources such as state grants, without regard to constitutional and statutory limitations; and
WHEREAS, Amendment 60 would require the E-911 Authority to which the District belongs, and all future authorities that the District may join in the future, to pay property taxes thus increasing its expenditures while Proposition 101 simultaneously reduces its revenues; and
WHEREAS, Amendment 60 would reduce the current revenues from the 2008 voter approved tax levy from $10,724,521 to $7,136,595 in annual revenues; and
WHEREAS, Amendment 61 would eliminate the ability of the District to utilize lease purchase agreements for the acquisition of vital emergency equipment and apparatus and require such agreements to be submitted for voter approval; and
WHEREAS, the ability to finance long-term capital improvements like fire stations, training facilities, a and other public facilities are dramatically impaired by the restrictions on debt financing as proposed by Amendment 61; and
WHEREAS, Amendments 60 & 61 would slash at least $1 billion annually in state taxes, greatly reducing if not eliminating vital state grants for fire protection and rescue equipment as well as various safety programs; and;
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WHEREAS, these measures individually and collectively significantly reduce or otherwise restrict both state and local revenues in a number of different ways, including but not limited to: specific ownership taxes, telecommunication taxes, state income taxes, state-shared revenues to assist municipalities with local street and transit improvements, other state grants and loans to help local government, and property taxes; and
WHEREAS, the cumulative and destructive nature of the three measures ensures that Colorado will surrender its competitive standing to attract large and small employers alike, resulting in little to no economic growth for the state and a steady decline in property values and erosion of the state and local tax base;
WHEREAS, the following services and programs in the Mountain View Fire Protection District will be limited or curtailed because of the numerous restrictions and revenue reductions proposed by these three measures: building of new fire stations; purchase of new and replacement fire apparatus and equipment; hiring of additional personnel; public education programs; and
WHEREAS, the District 's Board of Directors is concerned about the impact these three measures will have on its ability to work effectively with other local governments in the form of intergovernmental agreements including mutual aid and assistance and first response agreements with other fire departments in the Denver metropolitan area and in western Jefferson County; and
WHEREAS, State voters will have the opportunity on November 2, 2010 to protect the fiscal health of Colorado by defeating Proposition 101, Amendment 60 and Amendment 61;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MOUNTAIN VIEW FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT THAT:
The Board hereby adopts an official position opposing Proposition 101, Amendments 60, 61 as not being in the best interests of the District and in the public 's health, safety, and welfare.
As authorized by 1-45-117(1)(b)(III), C.R.S., the District 's administrative staff is hereby directed to report the passage of and to distribute copies of this Resolution through "established, customary means (other than through advertising)" by which other District information concerning other proceedings of this District and its Board of Directors is regularly provided to the public, including posting on the District 's website and other locations where the District 's minutes and announcements are made and/or posted..
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