Your Jeffco ballot, decoded

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Police officers, jailers and DA staff would have to notify the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (which includes ICE) within 72 hours of charging someone with a violent crime — or with ANY crime if the person has a prior felony — when they cannot confirm the person is lawfully in the U.S. after a “reasonable attempt.” It applies at charging, before any finding of guilt. It requires a notice, not jail holds on ICE detainers. Because it says “notwithstanding any other provision of Colorado law,” it overrides state and local limits on sharing information with immigration authorities for these cases.

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Adds two sentences to the Colorado Constitution: consumers have the right to buy natural gas for cooking or heating in homes or businesses anywhere in the state, and distributors and utilities have the right to sell it. There are no definitions, exceptions or safety carve-outs. The Blue Book says it “may limit the ability for state or local governments to enforce existing or future regulations.” CPR reports it would be the first such state constitutional right in the nation.

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Creates a constitutional right to hunt, fish and take wildlife, including “by the use of traditional methods” (not defined in the text), for all state-managed species except non-game species, endangered species and species illegal to hunt under federal law. It declares hunting and fishing the “preferred means” of managing wildlife, and lets the state restrict them only if the law is “necessary” for sound scientific conservation, public safety, or preserving future hunting and fishing opportunities. It creates no right to trespass.

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For federal or statewide elections, you would sign your mail-ballot envelope AND write the last 4 digits of your Social Security number or of your Real ID-compliant Colorado driver’s license or ID card. If the number is missing or does not match the statewide database, the clerk must notify you and your ballot is not counted until you fix it — with a copy of one of those IDs, a U.S. passport, U.S. military ID or tribal photo ID, in person or digitally. Elderly and disabled voters covered by federal accessibility law may cure with any ID valid under state law. In-person voting rules and local-only elections do not change.

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Every state and local ballot question would have to be written “in plain language at no more than an eighth-grade reading level.” And no statute could force extra language before, after or inside the title of a citizen initiative (legislative referrals are not covered by that second rule). It names no readability formula and no one to judge compliance.

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Re-adopts Colorado’s current independent-commission redistricting rules almost word for word, then adds a new rule: once a final congressional map is adopted, it cannot be changed for the 2028 election or later unless the independent commission approves the change AND the Colorado Supreme Court adopts it, after at least three public meetings — and the change cannot have the effect of dividing communities of interest or purposefully favor one party.

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Removes TABOR’s requirement that all income be taxed “at one rate” and replaces Colorado’s 4.4% flat income tax with six marginal brackets that apply to individuals, estates, trusts AND C corporations from tax year 2027: 3.7% on the first $25,000; 4.2% from $25,001–$100,000; 4.4% from $100,001–$500,000; 7.4% from $500,001–$750,000; 7.9% from $750,001–$1M; 8.4% above $1M. Brackets are not indexed for inflation and are the same for single and joint filers. Gains on selling a principal residence (above the federal exclusion) stay at 4.4%. About 97% of returns pay less; the new money (~$2B/yr) is TABOR-exempt and goes to a “Colorado Future’s Account” for K-12, health care (including replacing federal Medicaid cuts) and early childhood. The legislature decides the split; it must supplement, not supplant. Legal status: the Colorado Supreme Court (Oct 30, 2026) rejected a suit to void ~11,216 signatures, so the measure stays on the ballot and its votes count. It needs only a majority because its constitutional change is a pure repeal (Title Board ruling) — some forecasting sites wrongly list 55%.

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Lets the state keep money it would otherwise refund under TABOR, up to the existing cap PLUS the highest prior-year state K-12 spending (~$4.6B more room in year 1, growing with K-12 budgets). Retained money first reimburses local governments for senior, disabled-veteran and Gold Star property-tax exemptions; the rest goes to a new Children’s Account. For 10 years (through FY2035-36) it first funds a compounding 2%-per-year K-12 “positive factor” that districts and charters may spend only on teacher pay, teacher retention, smaller classes and career/technical courses (with sortable online spending reports from Aug 2027); K-12 gets at least half the account; the rest goes to children’s programs, prioritizing child care and full-day preschool. After 10 years the positive factor holds at its year-10 level and the remainder can be used for any purpose. The State Auditor reports annually.

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Distributing ANY amount of fentanyl — including sharing or transferring a pill — becomes a Level 1 drug felony with a mandatory 8–32 years in prison (12+ with aggravators). Distributing 4–50 grams also becomes mandatory 8–32 years (now possible 4–8). Possessing 1–4 grams becomes a Level 3 felony (possible 2–4 years). Possessing under 1 gram becomes a Level 4 “treatment-mandated” felony (possible 6 months–1 year), reduced to a misdemeanor if court-ordered treatment is completed. It also removes the “didn’t know it was fentanyl” mitigation, repeals the habitual-criminal exemption for low-level possession felonies, and creates a Level 2 felony for mixtures over 60% fentanyl once CBI can test purity. Protections for residue in used syringes and safe-disposal staff remain.

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Makes human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude a class 1 felony with mandatory life in prison without parole — judges get no sentencing discretion. It also expands the crime to include anyone who “knowingly trades anything of monetary value to buy or sell sexual activity with a minor,” so buyers are treated as traffickers. The governor’s pardon and commutation power is preserved.

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Every interscholastic and intramural team — elementary through college, in public, charter, private and religious schools — must be designated male, female or coed. Sex is defined by reproductive cells (sperm = male, ova = female); no verification method is specified. Female teams are closed to males; females may join male teams only if no female team exists; coed teams are open to all. No government body, accreditor or athletic association may investigate or penalize a school for keeping female-only teams. The Education Commissioner enforces against public K-12 districts that intentionally refuse; there is no enforcement mechanism for private schools, colleges or associations. Students with differences of sex development keep federal ADA protections. Non-school youth leagues are not covered.

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No health-care professional or other person may knowingly perform, prescribe, administer or provide any surgery to someone under 18 “for the purpose of altering biological sex characteristics,” defined as treatment in response to a minor’s perception of sex or gender. Exceptions: medically verifiable disorders of sex development, acquired physical or chemical abnormalities, and male circumcision. It also bans paying for these surgeries with state or federal funds, Medicaid or private insurance. No penalties are written in; enforcement would run through DORA professional licensing. Puberty blockers, hormones, counseling and social transition are NOT restricted.

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Adds one sentence to state law: “Starting January 1, 2027, neither the individual income tax rate nor the corporate income tax rate may exceed 4.4% of a taxpayer’s federal taxable income.” On its own it changes nothing today — the rate is 4.4% and TABOR already requires voter approval for any increase. Its practical purpose is to counter Amendment 87’s higher brackets.

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Does not raise any tax. Legislative staff would estimate the share of the existing 2.9% state sales tax paid on sporting goods (bikes, golf, hunting and fishing gear, camping, boats, RVs and campers, sports-equipment rentals) and declare it TABOR-exempt “wildfire and conservation revenue.” Each July 1 it moves to a new Conserve and Protect Colorado’s Water, Land and Forests Fund: 47.5% to Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), 47.5% to a Wildfire Prevention and Water Fund (State Forest Service and DNR/Water Conservation Board — thinning, prescribed fire, watershed restoration), 2.5% to CPW’s Outdoor Equity Fund and 2.5% to OEDIT outdoor-recreation economic development. It must supplement, not supplant, and automatically shrinks itself if needed to protect the Family Affordability Tax Credit or EITC.

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Raises Wheat Ridge’s city sales tax from 3.5% to 4.5% starting Jan 1, 2027, for capital projects and their upkeep: proactive street maintenance, bike/pedestrian safety, buying and preserving community space at two closed elementary schools (Wilmore-Davis and Kullerstrand), replacing the 1979 Anderson Park pool, and a new police/city campus. The city plans to borrow against the new revenue with certificates of participation, which do not require a separate public vote. The tax has no end date and also pays ongoing operations and maintenance.

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Mountain View has had a “strong mayor” who runs town operations since its 1972 charter — one of four such municipalities in Colorado (Denverite). 2B would have a council-hired town manager run day-to-day operations, supervise departments and prepare the budget. The mayor would still be elected, preside, vote only to break ties, keep the ordinance veto and remain ceremonial/legal head. The manager serves at the council’s pleasure; former elected officials must wait 4 years before becoming manager. Buried change: the amended charter also moves the start date for counting the mayor’s three-term limit from Nov 5, 2019 to Nov 7, 2023 — not mentioned in the ballot question.

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Article VIII of the town charter creates the Board of Adjustment and Appeals (hears building-permit and zoning appeals and grants variances, with decisions final subject only to court review) and the Planning & Zoning Commission (reviews every subdivision plat, holds zoning hearings, may prepare a master plan). It requires members to be taxpaying electors with one year of residency, serving unpaid, and removable only by a 3/4 vote of the entire council. 2C repeals the article so the council can create, change or retire boards by ordinance instead of charter elections.

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Morrison’s lodging tax currently exempts facilities with fewer than 8 rooms. 2D removes the exemption entirely, so every lodging business — including small B&Bs — must collect and remit the tax. Money can be used for any lawful town purpose.

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Raises Morrison’s tax on hotel and other lodging stays from 6% to 8% starting Jan 1, 2027. A staff memo cited visitor demands on streets, parking, facilities and infrastructure against a small resident tax base, called 6% “not unusually high,” and suggested 7% or 8%; the board chose 8%.

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Ends term limits for Morrison’s mayor and trustees while keeping 4-year staggered terms. The charter is currently silent on limits, but the town code (§1-5-2, re-enacted April 2026) applies the Colorado Constitution’s two-consecutive-term limit (Art. XVIII §11), which local voters are allowed to lengthen or eliminate. Because the code says the charter controls when the two conflict, 2F’s “without term limits” language would end term limits.

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Raises Lakewood’s city sales tax from 3% to 3.5% starting Jan 1, 2027. Food, including groceries, is exempt from the increase. The money may be spent only on public safety (crime prevention, homelessness response) and traffic safety (street and sidewalk maintenance and construction, speed reduction, pedestrian and bike safety). The split between the two is up to the council; there are no guaranteed dollars for police.

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A housekeeping fix. The county certifies results 10–14 days after an election, so the charter’s “first regular meeting following the election” always comes too early. Today the city cancels that meeting and swears in winners at the second meeting, leaving no regular business for up to ~30 days. 2H matches the charter to actual practice — the swearing-in date does not change — and helps ensure military and overseas ballots are counted before new members are seated.

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Current §12.12 (adopted 1983 or 1985 — sources differ) bars a property-tax levy that raises more than the prior year’s revenue plus 7%, with exceptions for debt, voter-approved contracts, services taken over from special districts, annexation and new construction. The council calls it obsolete and says it has been cited to argue the council cannot grant temporary tax relief. The replacement says property-tax revenues, mill levies and increases may not exceed Colorado Constitution limits unless voters approve; the council may temporarily cut mills by ordinance (for one year unless longer is specified) and later return to the voter-approved rate without a new vote. Debt and contract levies are unaffected.

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When residents petition an issue onto the ballot, the charter now requires an election 30–90 days after the petition is presented to council. 2J changes that to 60–150 days after the petition is finally certified as sufficient, matching the state statute for municipalities. The 30–90 day window worked for polling-place elections but is impractical for all-mail elections (printing, mailing, return time) and for military and overseas voters.

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Raises Edgewater’s city sales tax from 3.5% to 4.0% starting Jan 1, 2027, with every dollar restricted to accessibility and mobility: sidewalks, bike lanes, streetscaping, streets and alleys, ADA curb ramps and crosswalks — and reducing or eliminating the current requirement that adjacent property owners build and repair sidewalks. The ordinance itself does not repeal that owner obligation; the council would decide when and how much to shift. Any future borrowing against the tax would need voter approval.

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A permanent local property-tax increase for Jeffco Public Schools’ operating budget. The district plans ~$54.5M for compensation (about $15M for raises already awarded and $39.5M for future raises), ~$10M for career and technical education, and ~$8.5M passed to charter schools as required by law (95% by enrollment, 5% by free/reduced-lunch eligibility). The amount is not fixed: it floats with the state formula up to the 28% cap. CFO Brenna Copeland says that if enrollment keeps falling, collections will decrease; if formula funding rises, the cap and 5A’s revenue could rise without another vote. A board-appointed citizens’ committee reviews spending and reports annually.

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A permanent, inflation-indexed property tax that goes into a dedicated fund for school buildings, technology and maintenance — paid in cash, never borrowed against, so there is no interest. The district reports deferring $34–49M of needed capital work every year while capital reserves are projected to fall to $9M by June 2028. Priorities include replacing refrigerant equipment in 96 buildings, cooling, sewer/water lines, roofs past service life and aging security equipment; last year saw 10 school cancellations or early dismissals from cracked pipes, outages and similar failures. If 5B fails, another $35M of maintenance would be deferred in 2027-28 (~$79M total that year).

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A small mountain water district (about 115 homes in Blue Mountain Estates near Golden) wants to borrow up to $1.2M from a state lender — like a low-interest mortgage — for a new backwash processing system to handle naturally radioactive filter residue (TENORM) for compliance, a building to replace a fire-risk storage trailer, wildfire hardening of the treatment plant and pump stations (per the Coal Creek Fire community wildfire plan), and a backup generator to keep water pressure up during outages. It is repaid from water rates, not property taxes.

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A rural, volunteer-supported fire district in western Jeffco’s wildland-urban interface (~63 sq mi) wants a new 4.5-mill property tax, kept in a separate fund that can only buy, replace or rebuild fire engines and fleet vehicles. Frontline engines average ~27 years old; Engine 83 (1995) and Engine 81 (1998) are first in line. A new wildland-urban-interface engine costs $750K–$1M. The board chose a pay-as-you-go levy over a $1.78M, 20-year loan at 4% (~$131K/yr, including ~$840K of interest).

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Arvada Fire — which covers Arvada, northern Wheat Ridge, Fairmount and unincorporated areas (~60 sq mi, 11 stations) — would add a new 1% sales tax on top of its existing property tax, using a 2024 state law (SB24-194) that for the first time lets fire districts levy sales taxes. Money goes to fire, ambulance and rescue staffing, vehicles, equipment, facilities, recruitment and firefighter health (cardiac and cancer screening, mental health, fitness). The district gets no city money as a special district.

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A small Littleton-area recreation district (2 parks, 2 outdoor pools, 8 tennis courts and paths) wants 2.6 more mills to keep up operations and repairs. An October 2025 assessment found $2.0M of deferred maintenance, while only $25–50K a year is unencumbered in the budget. Jeffco Open Space Joint Venture grants it once relied on are now competitive and limited.

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Lets the rec district borrow up to $6.6M, repaid by property taxes over up to 30 years, for aquatic facilities, parks, playgrounds, athletic amenities, accessibility, safety and deferred maintenance. Early “rough order of magnitude” estimates (Aug 2026) price Marker Park at $6,481,345 and the pools at $3,339,050 — $9.82M total, more than the bond — so the district must prioritize. Estimates include 15% contingency and 15% design.

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Funds the full “Colorado Connector” passenger train along the Front Range. Without 7A, a starter service of 3 daily round trips Fort Collins–Denver (targeted for 2029) is already funded by RTD (≈$156M) and state enterprise fees, and the board chair says it proceeds either way. With 7A, service extends south of Union Station to Littleton, Sterling Ranch, Colorado Springs and Pueblo for “full service” by mid-2032 (draft plan: 4 daily round trips north of Denver, 2–3 Denver–Pueblo), scaling to 6/4 by 2037 and 10/8 by 2045, with a Trinidad connection to Amtrak’s Southwest Chief. Capital costs (year-of-expenditure): Phase 1 $332M, Phase 2 $1.772B, Phase 3 $611M, Phase 4 $99M, Phase 5 $2.027B. Important for Jeffco: no Jeffco city has a planned CoCo station, and the draft $51.3M/yr “Local Return” program (25 years, ~$1.5B) pays only station cities and Trinidad.

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Evergreen Fire/Rescue (~26,000 residents over 120+ sq mi) would add a 0.89% sales tax on top of its property tax, using the 2024 state law (SB24-194) that allows fire-district sales taxes. Uses: fire and EMS, recruiting volunteer and paid firefighters and paramedics, wildfire mitigation (expanding the wildland crew to 7-day staffing), community education and capital needs — including Station 1 (built 1965), slated for replacement in 2 master plans and 3 strategic plans.

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West Metro Fire Rescue serves 300,000+ residents over ~109 sq mi — Lakewood, Wheat Ridge (merged 2016), Edgewater, Morrison and unincorporated areas south through Dakota Ridge and Ken Caryl to Roxborough. It would add a 0.75% sales tax on top of its property tax, under the 2024 law (SB24-194) allowing fire-district sales taxes, to keep ambulances and engines arriving fast, maintain staffing, protect firefighter health, update equipment and strengthen wildfire response.

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Conifer Fire (formerly Inter-Canyon FPD, which absorbed North Fork on Jan 1, 2025) covers ~300 sq mi of foothills with ~650 calls a year, 60–70% medical. It wants 4 more mills to add 6 first responders in 2027, finish remodeling East Station 3 (Windy Point) and staff it 24/7, and replace 2 engines (16–30 years old) and 2 ambulances (up to 21 years old). The volunteer model is strained because volunteers commute out of the area.