Ballot Issue 6C lets the Pueblo West Metropolitan District collect, retain and spend all revenue it receives in fiscal year 2026 and in every property tax year after it, as a voter-approved revenue change under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR). It waives the 5.25% property tax limit in section 29-1-1702 of the Colorado Revised Statutes and lets the district exceed the 5.5% property tax revenue growth limitation in section 29-1-301 and any other revenue limit in state law. All revenue over those limits goes solely to the district's Parks and Recreation Department. The question raises no tax rate and imposes no new tax; either one needs a separate vote. The district's page on 6C says the measure applies beginning with fiscal year 2026 and continues for future property tax years.
Pueblo West Parks and Recreation Revenue Retention
Ballot Issue 6C lets the Pueblo West Metropolitan District keep revenue above TABOR's revenue limit and the state's 5.25% and 5.5% property tax limits. The question adds no tax rate, so what it changes is what the district keeps. Once 6C waives the limits for every future year, rising assessments can raise the district's revenue above them without a vote on any rate.
In 2016 the district's voters let it keep the excess for one facility and 10 years: a community pool, with the authority ending in 2026. This question takes that narrow grant and hands the excess to the Parks and Recreation Department with no end year, and the district's page says the authority continues for future property tax years. I oppose turning rising valuations into a lasting revenue increase for the district.
I recommend a no vote on Pueblo West Metropolitan District Ballot Issue 6C.
SHALL THE PUEBLO WEST METROPOLITAN DISTRICT WAIVE THE 5.25% PROPERTY TAX LIMIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND ALL FUTURE PROPERTY TAX YEARS, AND WITHOUT INCREASING ANY TAX RATE OR IMPOSING ANY NEW TAX, UNLESS SEPARATELY APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, BE PERMITTED TO COLLECT, RETAIN AND SPEND ALL REVENUE IT RECEIVES IN FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND IN ALL PROPERTY TAX YEARS THEREAFTER, AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND PROPERTY TAX REVENUE CHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION, AND BE PERMITTED TO EXCEED THE 5.5% PROPERTY TAX REVENUE GROWTH LIMITATION CONTAINED IN SECTION 29-1-301, COLORADO REVISED STATUTES, THE 5.25% PROPERTY TAX LIMIT CONTAINED IN SECTION 29-1-1702, COLORADO REVISED STATUTES, AND ANY OTHER REVENUE LIMITATION CONTAINED IN THE LAWS OF THE STATE, UTILIZING ALL OF THE EXCESS REVENUE OVER SAID LIMITS FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THE PUEBLO WEST METROPOLITAN DISTRICT PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT?
The district could permanently retain revenue above the stated limits, using the excess only for parks and recreation. New taxes or rate increases would require separate voter approval.
This question would not grant a new waiver of the district’s revenue limits.
The district's page says voters approved a similar measure in 2016 that let the district retain and spend excess revenue from 2017 through December 31, 2026, limited to the design, construction, maintenance or lease of a community pool and aquatic facility. Ballot Issue 6C begins with fiscal year 2026, has no end year, and names the Parks and Recreation Department, not the pool, as the use of the excess.
The district clerk presented the board with two versions, the minutes record: Option A for all eligible TABOR revenues and Option B for parks and recreation. On August 10, 2026, the board adopted the parks version 5-0 as Resolution 2026-056. The minutes record that directors discussed permanent versus 10-year authorization, estimated TABOR revenues, possible future operating costs, the ability to repeal the authorization, and using the revenue for parks and recreation rather than pursuing an additional sales tax.
Ballot Issue 6B, on the same ballot, extends the district's 1% fire sales tax with no end date and asks that all revenue from that tax be collected, retained and spent as a voter-approved revenue change and an exception to the TABOR limits.
- Pueblo West Metropolitan District Resolution 2026-056, Approving Ballot Language for TABOR Tax (Permanent Waiver, Parks and Recreation)Board of Directors, Pueblo West Metropolitan District · Aug 10, 2026
- Pueblo West Metropolitan District 2026 Ballot Information Sheet: Parks and Recreation Revenue RetentionBoard of Directors, Pueblo West Metropolitan District
- Board of Directors minutes, Aug. 10, 2026 (Resolution 2026-056)Pueblo West Metropolitan District · Aug 10, 2026