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Severance council weighs re-running transportation tax and adds lodging-tax discussion ahead of November ballot
Summary
Councilors considered placing a 1% sales-tax measure and lodging tax on the November ballot and discussed messaging challenges after the town’s earlier failed attempt to replace a transportation utility fee with a tax.
Town councilors discussed multiple potential ballot measures for the Nov. 2025 coordinated election at a June 10 work session, including re-running a proposed 1% sales tax intended to replace the town’s transportation utility fee and placing a lodging (short-term rental/hotels) tax before voters.
Town Manager Nick Wharton told the council the ballot text has to be certified in August and that the town has only a limited window to return a final version for the county to include on ballots. Wharton presented a revised draft that incorporates language explaining the tax would replace the existing fee; councilors said that was an improvement over prior wording that voters found confusing.
Council discussion focused on a history of public distrust about taxes and on what the town could do differently to win voter understanding. “There’s a substantial faction of people… that feel that way,” Mayor Friess said, recounting a resident’s view that the town lacked trust. Councilmembers noted the town already posts detailed monthly financial reports and check registers on its website and discussed the need for clearer voter outreach.
Councilors also reviewed examples from nearby jurisdictions. Councilmember Bruin said a neighboring town had passed a similar ballot measure with near-identical language; he argued the difference lay in better public promotion. Multiple members said any campaign would need targeted education and that they could meet with homeowners associations and host informal events, while avoiding prohibited coordinated campaigning after the town formally adopts a ballot question.
Wharton said legal constraints under Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) require ballot language to present tax increases first; councilmembers discussed whether a second contingent measure (eliminate fee if tax passes) could appear on the ballot and how county ballot ordering might affect voter behavior. Town staff will pursue answers about whether a paired contingent question could be placed and about logistics and timing for lodging-tax proposals.
No formal vote was taken. Staff will refine ballot language, check certification deadlines for the county, and provide examples of successful ballot campaigns and sample wording for council review.
