Denver County Republicans
The recommendations of the Denver Republican Party are indicated with Vote Yes or Vote NO.
2024 State Referred Ballot Measurers
The Colorado legislature has placed the following measures on the November 5, 2024 election ballot.
Amendment G Modify Property Tax Exemption For Veterans with Disabilities (Modify Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with a Disability) HCR23-1002
Vote Yes
Modest extension of current Homestead exemption on property tax benefit to veterans who are rated TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability) and are unable to hold a steady job. This provides an average tax reduction of $540/year to those who have injuries from having served their country.
Amendment H Judicial Discipline Procedures and Confidentiality - establishing an independent judicial discipline adjudicative board, setting standards for judicial review of a discipline case, and clarifying when discipline proceedings become public. HCR23-1001
Vote Yes
This measure gives the public more access to judicial records and provides more transparency. Instead of the Colorado Judges being self-regulated, an independent adjudicative board of lawyers, judges and citizens would be created to conduct judicial discipline hearings.
Amendment I Deny the right to bail to those charged with first-degree murder when proof is evident (reverses a state Supreme Court decision). HCR24-1002
Vote Yes
The ability to deny bail to those charged with first-degree murder is tied to the possibility of the death penalty (definition of Capital Offense) in the State Constitution. When the death penalty was abolished, so was the ability to deny bail, as ruled by the Colorado Supreme Court. This proposed amendment re-establishes denial of bail for first-degree murder with a high standard of probable conviction. This provides added safety to the public.
Amendment J Repeal of the state constitutional ban on same sex marriage. SCR24-003
Vote Yes
Removing this from the State Constitution aligns the State Constitution with U.S. Supreme Court and Colorado Supreme Court decisions and federal law that allows same-sex couples to marry. However, it is acknowledged that many carry the traditional belief that marriage should be a union between one man and one woman.
Amendment K Accelerate timelines for filing referendum petitions and publishing information about the measures, among other election calendar changes. SCR24-002
Vote NO
This amendment shortens the time for citizens to collect signatures and pile petitions for ballot measures. Government offices already have the ballot language on these measures and do not need extra time. This measure just seeks to make it more difficult for citizens to take petition action.
Proposition JJ Allow the state to keep $29 million in sports betting tax revenue that exceed the amount forecast in Proposition DD.
Vote NO
This proposition is another attack on TABOR allowing the government to keep more and more of taxpayers’ money. It is effectively a tax increase as it allows government to keep money that otherwise would be refunded. Under TABOR, government can only keep the originally approved amount of money from a tax, adjusted for inflation and increase in population. If government collects more than that total approved amount, it must refund the money or lower the tax rate to achieve the allowed total receipts. This measure will remove the cap so that government gets more money than the originally approved budget – a tax INCREASE!
Proposition KK 6.5% tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition. HB24-1349
Vote NO
If approved, this 6.5% excise tax would be added to the existing federal government 10% excise tax on handguns and 11% percent tax on all other firearms and all ammunition. Citizens have a state and federal constitutional right to own firearms and this measure puts an added burden on those who choose to exercise their constitutional rights. This is not only an attempt to shut down citizens’ ownership of guns, it is an overstep of government to single out a single industry for persecution.
2024 Statewide Initiatives on the Ballot
Amendment 79 Constitutional Right to Abortion (Right to Abortion) - Initiative #89. Text of Initiative
Vote NO
Abortion is already legal without ANY limitations in Colorado. This is not needed in the Constitution to assure access. However, this amendment would end the 40-year-old prohibition to using taxpayer money to fund abortions. Total costs to taxpayers would increase due to inclusion of abortions in Medicaid and public health plans. This also means that many Colorado residents morally opposed to abortion would be forced to fund these procedures through their tax payments.
Amendment 80 Constitutional Right to School Choice (School Choice in K-12 Education) - Initiative #138. Text to Initiative
Vote Yes
This amendment affirms the right of parents to choose an appropriate for their children, including all forms of school – public private and home school. Putting it in the Constitution keeps the legislature from tampering with this right.
Proposition 127 Prohibit Bobcat, Lynx, and Mountain Lion Hunting (Prohibit Trophy Hunting) - Initiative #91. Text to Initiative
Vote NO
Although it uses the term “trophy hunting,” this measure bans all hunting, pursing or entrapping of bobcats, lynx and mountain lions regardless of intent. We have already seen how this type of legislation is poorly thought out with the introduction of wolves and limitations on ranchers to protect their livestock. This measure also limits the ability of wildlife management experts to make appropriate decisions based on current circumstances.
Proposition 128 Parole Eligibility for Crimes of Violence (Concerning Eligibility for Parole) - Initiative #112. Text to Initiative
Vote Yes
This proposition requires a person convicted of certain violent crimes to serve at least 85% of their sentence in prison before they become eligible for parole or reduced sentence for good behavior. This measure increases public safety and ensures justice.
Proposition 129 Establishing Veterinary Professional Associates (Establish Qualifications and Registration for Veterinary Professional Associate - Initiative #145. Text to Initiative
Vote Yes
This proposition creates the new regulated profession of Veterinary Professional Associate to increase the availability of veterinary care, especially in rural areas. Although training programs are not yet available, CSU is developing a curriculum for the required master’s degree in veterinary clinical care.
Proposition 130 Funding for Law Enforcement - Initiative 157. Text to Initiative
Vote Yes
The state has an interest in making sure localities can recruit, train and retain police officers to protect Coloradans and their property. Also, the legislature has made demands on local police without adequate funding. However, this proposition is not time bound so it is possible that the legislature will delay full implementation and pay out.
Proposition 131 Establishing All-Candidate Primary and Ranked Choice Voting General Elections (Concerning the Conduct of Elections) - Initiative 131. Text to Initiative
Vote NO
This is potentially the most dangerous proposition on the ballot. It establishes a voting system that will be more complex and expensive, less transparent, and potentially will likely decrease diversity of viewpoints and candidates for voters.
Under this proposition, all voters will vote for a list of ALL candidates for an office in the primary, regardless of parties. The top 4 candidates will advance to the general election ballot. In the General Election, voters must rank the 4 candidates in order their preference. In a complex process, low ranking candidates are eliminated and remaining candidates re-ranked until a winner is determined. (See the Blue Book diagrams).
This system is likely to
1. Cause much confusion for voters, especially in down ballot races where the voter is not at all familiar with all the candidates.
2. Be very hard and expensive to implement. Almost all County Clerks of both parties oppose this.
3. Is almost impossible to audit, causing more distrust of our election system.
4. Could result in all candidates being from one party in heavily Democrat or Republican districts, thus denying voters the opportunity to hear of diversity of opinions.
5. Most of the jurisdictions that have tried this method are now seeing movements to remove this system.
Full List of Initiatives Submitted and their Status
2024 City and County of Denver
Ballot Question 2Q Sales tax increase (0.34%) tax increase to support Denver Health. View Ballot Ordinance
Denver Health funding: If passed, the City of Denver sales and use tax would be increased by 0.34% to raise $70 million annually to support “certain services” of the Denver Health and Hospital Authority. “On average, Denver Health has absorbed approximately $100 million in each of the last two (2) years for uncompensated care being provided to Denver residents, and that figure is projected to rise to $124 million in 2025,” the measure detail reads. The tax would help cover those costs.
Vote NO
Although we all appreciate the work done at Denver Health, this tax increase must be opposed for all of these reasons:
1. The Hospital Authority is the Safety Net hospital for the metro REGION, providing services regardless of ability to pay. Medical facilities in the towns and cities surrounding Denver refer indigent and uninsured patients to Denver Health. These other communities need to SHARE THE COST of providing safety net services – it should not be on the shoulders of Denver residents alone.
2. City and County of Denver needs to step up to the plate and prioritize support for Denver Health in its budget instead of increasing the taxpayer burden. Nationwide, safety net hospitals get an average of 11% of their funding from local government. Denver contributes only 2.39% of Denver Health’s budget.
3. Denver’s Sanctuary City status has added to the problem of uncompensated care. Last year, the hospital provided over $10.5 million in uncompensated care to over 8500 undocumented immigrants. It is irresponsible of the City to promote the Sanctuary City policy without having budgeted the associated costs.
4. This measure adds another COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE on all Denver residents at a time when they are already coping with soaring property taxes, new fees for sidewalks, and trash fees. Sales taxes have already increased 30% since 2018.
5. This measure has a sneaky provision to exempt this tax from the TABOR cap which means Denver Health will get far more than original $70M/year when retail spending increases. Denver Health should ask the voters before taking more than the original proposed revenue and demonstrate the increased need for funds.
6. This tax and the other proposed sales tax increase will together cause Denver to have ONE OF THE HIGHEST SALES TAXES in the state! Businesses will suffer as residents will shop in suburbs to avoid these high taxes.
Ballot Question 2R Half percent (0.5%) tax increase for affordable housing - pending city council approval. View Ballot Ordinance
Affordable housing funding: The measure would, if passed, increase the local sales tax rate by 0.5% to fund affordable housing and related housing support services citywide. The aim is to generate $100 million from the tax increase annually. Funds could be used for a variety of activities related to “affordable housing”, including administrative costs.
Vote NO
This additional cost burden on Denver residents is the wrong solution for these reasons:
1. It adds another COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE on all Denver residents at a time when they are already coping with soaring property taxes, new fees for sidewalks, and trash fees. (And all these taxes and fees have contributed to increased rents as well.) ENOUGH!
2. A sales tax is a regressive tax – it hurts low income and fixed income residents more! While this measure aims to help low-income home seekers, it actually makes it harder for ALL low income and fixed income persons to afford to live in Denver.
3. This sales tax will produce $100 million PER YEAR forever with only general categories of uses named. Give taxpayers a detailed and specific plan before asking for so much money!
4. This measure has a sneaky provision to exempt this tax from the TABOR cap which means the city will get far more than $100M/year when retail spending increases. Where is the accountability for this increase? The city should ask the voters before taking more than the original $100M/year.
5. Denver will have ONE OF THE HIGHEST SALES TAXES in the state! Businesses will suffer as residents will shop in Glendale or other suburbs to avoid these high taxes.
6. Denver should seek other solutions before raising taxes. It is widely acknowledged that the Construction Defects Law is responsible for an 76% reduction in new condo builds – and condos are the lowest cost starter homes. There has been an 84% decrease in the number of condo and townhome developers. The Construction Defects Law substantially increases the litigation risks and insurance costs for developers. Why isn’t the city actively pressuring the State Legislature to adopt the balanced approaches to construction defects that have been proposed by various organizations.
Ballot Question 2S Department of Human Rights: The measure would elevate the Department of Human Rights to a charter agency and add its executive director to the mayor’s cabinet, giving it more influence and autonomy. View Ballot Ordinance
Vote NO
This function has existed since 1948 without being at cabinet level. Not all departments and commissions need to be cabinet level offices to be effective. Although a budget increase is not forecast, the elevation of position will undoubtedly will cause an increase in salaries.
Ballot Question 2T Removing citizenship requirement for police and firefighters: If passed, firefighters and police officers would not be required to be U.S. citizens in order to serve in the City of Denver. View Ballot Ordinance
Vote NO
While there is a real need to recruit more fire and police personnel, we oppose this ordinance for Public Safety reasons. There is a distinct possibility that this change could be used for harm by those who are not loyal to our country, state and community. Candidates for the fire and police departments need to make the effort to become U S citizens before serving in these capacities.
Ballot Question 2U Collective bargaining: Would expand collective bargaining as the means for setting compensation and other terms of employment, including some benefits, for non-supervisory City of Denver employees. The measure would result in almost all employees having collective bargaining rights. View Ballot Ordinance
Vote NO
In general, unions are inappropriate in the public sector.
1. Public employee salaries are paid by all taxpayers yet we do not have power in collective bargaining. When public employees go on strike – they are striking against the taxpayers!
2. In private industries, the role of unions is to gain a higher percentage of profits of the company. In the government sector, there is no profit, just taxpayer obligations.
3. In private industries, the union negotiates safety concerns and retirement. These issues are handled by city council or the state legislature in the public sector.
Vote NO so that we don’t increase unionization in government any more than we already have it.
Ballot Question 2V Firefighters collective bargaining: The charter would be amended, if passed, to allow for binding arbitration for firefighters when an impasse occurs during collective bargaining. View Ballot Ordinance
Vote Yes (with reservations)
This amendment provides the same benefit to the firefighter union that the police union has. These unions are not allowed to strike and binding arbitration will speed the resolution of negotiations. However, it must be acknowledged that binding arbitration has often results in significant increases in total costs.
Ballot Question 2W Salaries of elected officials: Would remove the requirement from the city charter that elected official salaries must be voted on every four years and to set salary structuring by ordinance. Future adjustments would be the lesser of either the CPI increase in the Denver Metro area or the cumulative percentage change for Career Service Denver employees. View Ballot Ordinance
Vote NO
Even though the salary structure is already specified by ordinance, it should remain the responsibility of the City Council to actually approve official salaries. Although they don’t like the appearance of raising salaries, City Council members must be accountable for all cost increases.
Ballot Question 308 Fur ban: Would ban the display, distribution, manufacture, and sale or trade of “certain” animal fur products. Animals slaughtered for their fur “endure tremendous suffering” and the “demand for fur products does not justify the unnecessary killing and cruel treatment of animals”, the ballot item reads. This item was put forward by the same residents as the slaughterhouse ban.
Vote NO
This proposed ordinance singles out and prohibits a single type of business and category of products. This will put furriers out of business and will impact the Western Stock Show (which opposes it). This not only outlaws sale of fur coats, it impacts such products as cowboy hats and fish lures that use animal fur. We should not limit or prohibit these traditional western businesses. It is anti-free- enterprise!
Ballot Question 309 Slaughterhouse ban: Would prohibit slaughterhouses in the city limits and beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the construction, maintenance or use of existing slaughterhouses. The ballot item terms slaughterhouses “nuisances” and cites their “foul odors” and “unsightly industrial facades”. The item also cites “climate change” as a reason to abandon slaughterhouses. Ballot Title
Vote NO
This proposed ordinance specifically seeks to put Superior Farms, an employee-owned slaughterhouse, out of business. This business supplies 15-20% of all lamb products in the United States. This ordinance impacts a wide net of farms and businesses and it is estimated may eliminate up to 2160 jobs. Metro Denver might lose $760 million in output and could cause agricultural disruption throughout the state.
The sponsors of this measure see this as the first step in eliminating the entire meat processing industry in this country. This is a major attack on private enterprise!
Ballot Question 4A Denver Public Schools to submit $975 Million bond issue to voters - What is included in the ask? Ballot Title
Vote NO
While we all want to support our Public Schools, this gigantic $975 million bond issue is TOO BIG and prevents suffering taxpayers from getting a tax rate decrease they need. We should OPPOSE Issue 4A for these reasons:
1. While not increasing tax rates, this initiative EXTENDS taxes approved in 6 different elections that OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE EXPIRED! The property taxpayers could have used a DECREASE in taxes after the tremendous hike due to property value increases.
2. This bond issue is TOO BIG – the $975 million bond issue will actually cost $1.9 billion after interest is paid! Many of the items included in this bond should have been paid out of the regular budget. The Denver Schools got the benefit of a windfall property tax increase due to increases in property values, yet instead of using that windfall for maintenance and upgrades, the schools are asking for more money, Denver residents have suffered too high an increase in cost of living already. ENOUGH!
3. As they are extending previously approved taxes, this bond money and associated taxes are not subject to the TABOR cap on total revenues generated. If consumer spending increases the school district gets an increase in tax revenues without asking the taxpayers. Every time property values go up, the schools get a windfall increase to their budget while taxpayers are faced with higher tax bills. This is exactly what caused the uproar over increased property tax bills in this last year. The total tax revenue should be capped and not allowed to increase, with tax rates being decreased if property values go up so that the total revenue remains the same.
4. In the fine print at the end of the issue, this ballot issue allows the INCREASE IN MILL TAX RATE ON PROPERTY if needed to cover the cost of the bond, without further vote of the people.
5. There has actually been an ongoing decrease in school enrollment. Why isn’t the Board consolidating the school population into already updated buildings.
Ballot Question 6A Downtown Denver Development Authority: The measure asks to take on $570 million in debt with a total repayment not to exceed $847 million for use by the Downtown Denver Development Authority. The purpose of the funding would be to finance costs of public facility and other improvements, infrastructure, and improvements to public or private property. View Ballot Ordinance
Vote NO
1. Financial and Economic Risks: The expansion of the Denver Downtown Development Authority involves taking on $570M in debt with a total of repayment cost of $847M, potentially leading to increased financial burdens for residents and businesses through higher taxes or operational costs if economic projections don't pan out.
2. Governance and Transparency Issues: The proposal's implementation raises questions about transparency, accountability, and decision-making processes. There's a risk of funds being misallocated or used inefficiently for projects that might not serve the broader public interest or economic development goals, potentially leading to wasteful spending or favoring specific interests over the city's economic welfare.
3. Long-term Commitment: Committing to debt repayment for decades ties future generations and administrations to current financial decisions, which might not align with evolving economic conditions or priorities.
Ballot Question 7A RTD (Regional Transportation District) asking to be removed from TABOR limits. The request was unanimously approved by the RTD Board on June 25, 2024 More Information Ballot Title
Vote NO
This ballot proposal should be opposed for two reasons:
1. With this ballot proposal RTD seeks to be released from the TABOR cap on total revenues collected, thereby subjecting Denver taxpayers with more of the property tax increases taxpayers have just experienced from the City and Schools. One of the primary requirements of TABOR is that a governmental entity cannot collect and spend any more revenue than it did the previous year, adjusted for population growth and inflation. If the government collects too much, it must be returned to the taxpayer either directly or via a decrease in the tax rate. If this passes, RTD will be released from the cap and every time property values increase, RTD will get windfall revenue without having to explain to taxpayers how it will be used.
2. RTD has a record of continual over-expenditure and under-performance. It still hasn't completed all the rail lines promised from a previous tax increase. Total train ridership has been stagnant, especially with a decrease of downtown as a work hub. RTD should not be allowed increased revenue until it has tighter plans and a proven record of performance.
2024 Judges Retention Elections
List of Judges Subject to Retention Election with Commission Recommendations
We have one specific recommendation on the retention of judges.
Shall Justice Monica M. Marquez of the Colorado Supreme Court be retained in office?
Vote NO
Justice Marquez is one of the Colorado Supreme Court Justices who voted to keep Trump off the Colorado ballot.