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Council directs staff to prepare 2026 ballot language to extend and modify historic preservation tax, sets 30% museum floor
Summary
After a task-force presentation, council directed staff to draft ballot language for a 10-year extension of the city’s historic preservation tax, endorsed adding a fourth flexible spending category and accepted a friendly amendment making 30% the minimum allocation to the museum while retaining staff and council discretion over exact wording.
The Louisville City Council directed staff to prepare ballot language for a proposed 10-year extension of the city’s historic preservation tax and considered how proceeds would be allocated.
Brandy Cummings, director of cultural services and task-force lead, told council the task force recommended placing an expiration/extension question on the 2026 ballot and keeping the tax rate the same while adjusting allocations. Cummings summarized a recommendation to set museum funding between 30% and 40% of tax revenue and to add a fourth spending category allowing programming, capital work and city-owned facilities to be eligible subject to Historic Preservation Commission approval.
Council members pressed staff for fund-scenario analyses and asked whether the proposal could unintentionally shift funds away from preservation incentives; Community Development Director Rob Zuccaro said staff can provide scenario models and noted the tax currently generates about $1 million a year with roughly $800,000 going to preservation incentives and $200,000 to the museum under current allocations.
Public commenters included Historic Preservation Commission Chair Sloan Whitten, who expressed the commission’s support for the 30% proposal, and resident Bob Muckle, who warned that a floor could become a de facto "museum tax" if not constrained. After debate, council member Haftar moved to direct staff to draft language for a 10-year extension and the motion was amended on the floor to specify a minimum 30% allocation to the museum; council accepted the amendment and provided direction to return ballot language for first reading July 14. Staff noted Boulder County’s July 24 deadline for coordinating ballot matters.
Council asked staff to return with clear, concise ballot language, fund-scenario analyses showing the effect of different landmark-application volumes and clarity on the fourth category’s scope and administration.
