Ballot Issue 2A in the Final Week: What Centennial's Ballot Language Actually Says |
Ballot Issue 2A would raise Centennial's share of the sales tax from 2.5% to 3.5% starting Jan. 1, 2027. We compare the ballot language with the city's own description and lay out the trade-offs before ballots are due at 7 p.m. Nov. 3. |
The question in front of you
Centennial voters have one week to decide Ballot Issue 2A. At its Aug. 11 meeting, City Council voted to place the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot. It asks whether to raise the City's sales and use tax by 1% for transportation (city news release).
If approved, the city's share of the sales and use tax would rise from 2.5% to 3.5%. The city's project page estimates that would raise about $27 million a year. Under Resolution 2026-R-26 in the Aug. 11 council packet, the higher rate would begin Jan. 1, 2027. Council would still need to adopt an ordinance to put it into effect.
Why the city says it's needed
The city's argument centers on a budget gap. By its figures, the Street Fund receives about $15 million a year in dedicated revenue. Maintaining and operating the transportation network takes "a minimum of approximately $35 million."
The city says it has covered the difference with General Fund savings and reserves. It projects those will be exhausted by 2028, citing rising construction costs and aging infrastructure. A staff memo in the council packet adds that the current 2.5% rate is "among the lowest of any comparable Colorado municipality."
What the ballot says, and what the web page says
The two documents are worth reading side by side. The ballot language lists traffic safety, street maintenance, roadway reconstruction, and bridge and sidewalk repairs.
The city's project page describes a broader set of intended uses:
paving
bridges
sidewalks and bicycle facilities
traffic signal replacements
street lighting
snow removal and street sweeping
future capital projects
With winter approaching, snow removal may be on your mind. It appears on the city's web list but is not named in the ballot text.
On accountability, the resolution says revenue and spending would be reported in the city's annual independent audit. That audit is published on the city website and reviewed by the Audit Committee and Council. The ballot language includes no end date.
The trade-offs on the table
The staff memo acknowledges that a sales tax "can generally be viewed as a regressive tax." That means it takes a larger share of income from lower-income households. The same memo lists offsetting factors: groceries, prescriptions and rent are excluded, and visitors and commuters who shop in Centennial pay it too.
The ballot title lists groceries, gasoline and prescription drugs as exempt. The city's release says residential utilities are also exempt.
Scale matters, too. A one-point increase is 40% more than the city's current 2.5% rate. State, county and other taxes also apply at the register, so the percentage change in the total rate shoppers pay is smaller.
Voters are weighing several factors:
a dedicated transportation revenue stream before reserves run out, as the city describes it
a tax with no end date
a tax that, by staff's own description, weighs more heavily on households with less income
What comes next
By 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3: Arapahoe County says mail ballots must be received by then. The county's suggested mail-by date of Oct. 26 has passed, so plan to use a drop box or a Voter Service and Polling Center. Details are in the county's elections FAQ.
Nov. 17: Colorado Community Media reports that council's adoption of the 2027–28 budget, with a public hearing, is scheduled for that date. That is two weeks after the 2A result.
The budget hearing will show how council plans for either outcome. Which matters more to you when you read the ballot language: the specific uses it names, or the accountability it promises? |
27 Comments
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Thanks for breaking down the dates! I’ll bring my ballot to the library box after work.
I would support if the city promised to use most of it for fixing potholes. Tires aren’t cheap!
It’s gonna hurt more for folks who buy most stuff in town. Tax structure feels off, even if some basics are exempt.
Annual audit is good but how much input do regular people get? Council meetings don’t fit my schedule.
No end date worries me. Wish they checked in with voters after 5 or 10 years to see what’s working.
Sidewalks and bikes getting some spotlight is good to see. Some spots near Piney Creek are rough for walkers and kids.
We’re glad to see support for pedestrian and bike improvements, these are indeed priorities listed for new funding, especially in areas that need upgrades like Piney Creek.
Mail’s too late now so thanks for the reminder about the drop boxes. Wouldn’t have remembered myself.
My rent just went up and now maybe sales tax too? I know roads matter but it’s getting pricey to live here.
Ballot says one thing, project page another. Classic city writing. At least they exempt groceries. That helps my family a bit.
Why is future capital projects so vague? Kind of skeptical about what counts for that and how much is just routine maintenance.
I’ve lived here since before incorporation and we always put off these fixes. Maybe it’s time to pay up for once.
Not totally against it but wish the ballot language matched the city website. Makes it hard to trust what’s really covered.
You’re not alone. The difference between the ballot language and the website is a common concern, and we hope readers take time to compare both sources to make an informed decision.
Dropping off my ballot today. I’m voting yes, but only because of the road conditions on Arapahoe Rd lately. Would like to see sidewalks fixed too.
I hope the council explains how this gets spent every year. The list on the website is so broad. Traffic signals, street sweeping... Lots to keep track of.
Transparency is a key promise here. Spending would be reported in the city’s annual independent audit, which is reviewed publicly and posted on the city website.
Always wondered why we have the lowest rate around, and the streets show it in some places. But is a 40% hike the right call?
Thanks for raising the question, while the 1% increase is a significant jump from the current rate, the city cites a sizable gap between street funding and maintenance needs as the main driver.
The gap between what they have and what’s needed for the streets is pretty big. Maybe they should’ve started looking for new revenue earlier?
Visitors paying the tax doesn't bother me, but I worry about fixed-income folks. Even with groceries off, basics still cost more.
Glad they’re reporting spending in the annual audit, but hardly anyone reads those. Would like something more regular, maybe a newsletter.
No end date on the tax is kind of a red flag for me. Council should've put a sunset clause to reconsider down the line.
I get the roads need work, but I’d like to see more about snow removal. Centennial gets hit pretty hard some winters.
I appreciate the list of exemptions, but are we sure utilities will be left out? The web page says yes but it's not clear in all the docs.
Sheila RainesYeah, I noticed that too. I think the council mentioned utilities being exempt at their meeting but it would be good to see it spelled out everywhere. Maybe someone from the city can clarify before voting ends.
That extra 1% might not seem like much but with everything else going up, it adds up fast. Wish they had put an end date on it though.