Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Facility Financing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Timnath council sends 1.25% sales-tax measure for downtown recreation center to November ballot
Summary
The Timnath Town Council voted unanimously to refer a 1.25% sales-tax increase to voters on Nov. 4 to pay for design and construction of a recreation center; if debt is repaid earlier the tax would drop to 0.25% for ongoing operations.
The Timnath Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to refer a ballot question asking voters to approve a 1.25% sales-tax increase to fund design, construction, operation, maintenance and repair of a proposed downtown recreation center.
Town clerk Miss Stiefel told the council the ballot language would authorize the 1.25% increase for up to 30 years, with an automatic or council-authorized reduction to 0.25% after associated construction debt is retired; the town will coordinate the Nov. 4 consolidated election with Larimer County.
Council and staff said the measure is required by the state Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) because it would raise taxes. The clerk outlined administrative deadlines: certification of ballot content by Sept. 5, a Sept. 19 noon deadline for pro/con statements to be included in the voters’ blue book, and an Oct. mailing schedule for the blue book and ballots. Ballots will be counted and certified by the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder; mailed ballots and a town drop box are planned. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 4.
Supporters at the meeting said the center would provide year-round community programming, spur Old Town activity and attract visitors who would then support local businesses. Christine Landon, representing Guide Our Growth, and Dan Ethridge, speaking for Together for Timnath, urged passage and pledged outreach to secure voter approval. Ethridge read Together for Timnath’s letter endorsing the measure and noting recent survey support.
A public commenter, Randall Black, urged caution and called for clearer dollar-cost examples for households. Black said he was concerned about admission fees that staff said have not been set, and he raised TABOR-related concerns about financing and whether the town should put such debt before voters in other ways. Miss Stiefel and councilors responded with procedural clarifications: voters must approve any tax increase and revenue from the proposed sales tax must be used for the recreation center as described in the ballot language.
Council members who spoke said the town carried out surveys, information sessions and analysis and that the package before voters is conservative in its revenue and cost assumptions. Mayor Pro Tem Luke Wagner and other councilors described broad community outreach and planning and said they were ready to ask voters for a final decision.
The council approved ordinance 12, series 2025, referring the ballot question. The ordinance passed unanimously; council recorded the vote as all present voting aye.
The council set the ballot language and directed staff to proceed with certification and election coordination with Larimer County. Pro- and con- statement deadlines and blue-book mailing dates are on the town schedule in the packet.
