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Wellington board votes to refer 0.5% public safety sales tax to November ballot after contentious debate
Summary
After extended trustee and public discussion about timing, equity and transparency — including questions about Flock Safety cameras — the board voted to refer a 0.5 percentage-point sales-and-use tax for public safety to the Nov. 3, 2026 coordinated election. Staff estimated first‑year revenue of about $905,000 and noted the LCSO contract is about $2.27 million.
The Wellington Board of Trustees voted to refer a proposed 0.5 percentage-point public safety sales-and-use tax question to the Nov. 3, 2026 coordinated election after extended discussion and public comment.
Town Administrator Patty Garcia and staff presented the proposal as a way to create a dedicated, reoccurring revenue source for law enforcement and related public safety services. Garcia said the proposed 0.5 percent increase would raise Wellington’s municipal sales-and-use tax from 3.0% to 3.5% and that staff estimated first-year revenue of approximately $905,000. Staff noted the current Larimer County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) contract totals about $2,270,000, and the proposed revenue would cover roughly 40% of that cost in year one.
Garcia emphasized that referral would not impose the tax but would allow voters to decide. She also highlighted municipal finance concerns: Wellington’s municipal sales tax rate has not changed since 1998 while population has grown substantially.
Public commenters raised objections. Carla Biddle told the board she is concerned about the town’s internal spending and urged staff to find internal savings before asking residents to pay more. Leah Kershaw, a resident, asked for greater transparency and an accounting of the town’s Flock Safety automated license-plate-reader program and alleged that a mayoral staffer had contacted her privately about unrelated matters; she asked for public oversight of any surveillance program.
Trustees debated timing and policy tradeoffs. Trustee Cannon opposed immediate referral, arguing the board had not sufficiently explored economic development and internal spending reductions and called last-minute placement of a ballot referral "suspect." Trustees Moyer, Blackstone and others supported placing the question on the November ballot to let voters decide and said the ask was modest and regionally competitive.
After deliberation the board voted to participate in the coordinated election and refer the ballot question. Roll-call votes recorded yes from Trustees Blackstone, Moyer, Barrett, Moore and Mayor Dailey; no votes were cast by Trustee Cannon and Mayor Burton Mason. The motion passed and staff will proceed with election coordination, finalize ballot language and meet Larimer County deadlines.
Staff said the example ballot language would show expected first‑year revenue ($905,000), include TABOR-required clarity (e.g., "50¢ on a $100 purchase") and set an effective date (Jan. 1, 2027) if voters approve the measure.
