The El Paso County Board of Commissioners voted today to disclose its stance on 15 ballot measures slated for the November general election, including one measure that appears only for voters inside the Front Range Passenger Rail District.
Opposition to the Front Range Rail tax
The board opposed Ballot Issue 7A, which would add an additional sales and use tax to fund the Front Range Passenger Rail project. Commissioners cited the long‑term cost to taxpayers and warned that residents would be required to pay into the system for a decade before any train service could begin.
Tax and income‑rate proposals
Board members also opposed Amendment 87, which seeks to replace Colorado’s flat income tax with graduated rates. Instead, they voiced support for Proposition 136, a measure that would cap any future increases in the state’s individual income‑tax rate, preserving the low‑tax environment that benefits families and small businesses.
Public‑safety and law‑enforcement support
Three measures received the board’s endorsement for enhancing public safety: Propositions 132 and 133, along with Amendment 71. The commissioners said these initiatives would improve cooperation with law‑enforcement agencies and bolster community safety.
Protecting children and school athletics
Propositions 134 and 135 were also supported. The board highlighted that these measures aim to preserve fairness in school and collegiate athletics and to protect children by establishing restrictions on certain surgical procedures performed on minors.
Voter‑identification and redistricting reforms
Amendments 84, 85 and 86 earned the board’s backing. According to the resolution, these changes will strengthen voter‑identification requirements, clarify ballot language, and add safeguards for off‑cycle congressional redistricting, ensuring transparent and accountable elections.
Natural‑resource and hunting‑fish rights
The commissioners approved Amendments 82 and 83, which would create a constitutional protection for the lawful purchase and sale of natural gas and affirm the right to hunt and fish in Colorado. The board framed these provisions as essential to safeguarding traditional outdoor pursuits for Colorado families.
Opposition to measures seen as eroding taxpayer protections
Finally, the board opposed Proposition 137 and Proposition NN, arguing that both would erode the state’s taxpayer‑protection and refund requirements established under the Taxpayer‑Bill of Rights (TABOR).
Full resolution
The complete resolution of the El Paso County Board of Commissioners can be accessed through the county’s official website.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
