Boulder County amends open-space sales-tax ballot language to make funding perpetual, adds agriculture language

The Boulder County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 28 voted to modify the language of two resolutions that refer an open-space sales-tax measure to the Nov. 2025 ballot. The board changed the tenure language to make the tax renewal perpetual and added explicit language referencing "agricultural open space" to the measure description.

Deputy county staff briefed the board that the board originally placed two related measures on the November ballot; several commissioners and members of the public asked for reconsideration of the measure language before it was finalized. "It was brought up by the board that there's interest in reconsideration of the language that is included in the two referred ballot measures for the November, 2025 general election," Deputy Natalie Springett told commissioners.

Commissioner Levy said she supported additional review before asking voters to make a long-term commitment, noting the county already has sales-tax measures with revenue running into the 2030s and that agricultural uses were not clearly named in the earlier paragraph of the resolution. "This ballot language does the uses actually does not mention agriculture," Levy said, urging reconsideration to ensure agricultural land and infrastructure needs are addressed if the tax is made perpetual.

County attorneys advised the board that, because the topic was on the agenda, the board could modify the language and re-refer the measure to the ballot. Commissioner Stoltzmann moved to approve Resolution 2025-036 (the open-space sales-tax measure) modified to change the tenure to perpetual and to add the phrase "including agricultural open space" after "other open space property interests." The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote with no opposition.

The board took a similar action on the companion resolution 2025-037, approving a motion to place it on the ballot as a perpetual measure and to add "including agricultural open space" to the resolution language. Supporters said the change responds to concerns raised by landowners and represents countywide policy about the role of open space funding, while opponents had earlier urged more study of long-term staffing and expenditure plans before committing to perpetual funding.

County staff and commissioners repeatedly noted the measure will still be subject to voter approval in November; the board's action modifies what voters will see on the ballot, not the tax itself. Staff said the change was intended to provide reassurance to agricultural stakeholders that farmland preservation and agricultural infrastructure are an eligible use under the measure's language.

After the vote the board moved on to other business on the agenda.