Ballots due Tuesday in town election

Posted

Staff Writer

The Pagosa Springs municipal election will be held next Tuesday, April 8.

Voters can mail in their ballots or deliver them to the Town Hall polling place located at 551 Hot Springs Blvd. The polling place will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 8.

If a voter does not receive their ballot in the mail by April 4, please go to the Town Hall to receive a replacement ballot.

Mayor

Candidates for mayor are Paul Nobles, Shari Pierce, Mark Weiler and Don Volger.

Town council

Running for town council in district one are Mat deGraaf and Kathie Lattin.

Running unopposed for district two is John Egan. CK Patel is running unopposed for district three.

Ballot issues

Also to be decided this election are three ballot issues.

Ballot Issue A:

“SHALL THE TOWN OF PAGOSA SPRINGS TAXES BE INCREASED $1,950,000 (FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR DOLLAR INCREASE) ANNUALLY AND SHALL THE TOWN OF PAGOSA SPRINGS DEBT BE INCREASED BY AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $18,000,000, WITH A MAXIMUM REPAYMENT COST OF $44,895,000; SUCH TAXES TO CONSIST OF ALL REVENUES GENERATED FROM A RATE INCREASE OF 1.0% IN THE TOWN’S SALES TAX (ONE CENT INCREASE ON EACH DOLLAR) COMMENCING JULY 1, 2014 AND CONTINUING FOR UP TO 25 YEARS, TO AND INCLUDING JUNE 30, 2039, WHICH SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO A TOWN RECREATION CENTER FUND AND USED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING, EQUIPPING, OPERATING AND MAINTAINING A COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER AND PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF REVENUE BONDS ISSUED FOR SUCH PURPOSES; SUCH DEBT TO CONSIST OF REVENUE BONDS PAYABLE FROM THE TOWN RECREATION CENTER FUND AND ISSUED FOR THE PURPOSE OF:

“•CONSTRUCTING AND EQUIPPING A COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER TO INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO A MULTIPURPOSE GYMNASIUM, AN AQUATICS CENTER, A FITNESS AND TRAINING CENTER, AND OTHER ASSOCIATED RECREATION FACILITIES, AMENITIES AND EXPANSIONS

“SUCH BONDS TO BE DATED AND SOLD AT SUCH TIME, AND AT SUCH PRICES (AT, ABOVE OR BELOW PAR), AND CONTAINING SUCH TERMS, NOT INCONSISTENT HEREWITH, AS THE TOWN COUNCIL MAY DETERMINE, PROVIDED THAT NOT MORE THAN 10% OF THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE BONDS MAY BE USED TO FUND A RESERVE OR RESERVES TO SECURE THE PAYMENT OF THE BONDS; SHALL SUCH BONDS BE REPAID FROM THE REVENUES FROM SUCH TAX AND, TO THE EXTENT REVENUES FROM SUCH TAX ARE NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE REPAYMENT OF SUCH BONDS, FROM AMOUNTS DISTRIBUTED TO THE TOWN BY ARCHULETA COUNTY FROM THE REVENUES FROM THE COUNTY’S 2% SALES TAX; SHALL THE TOWN BE AUTHORIZED, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF SUCH BONDS, TO ENTER INTO A MULTIPLE-FISCAL YEAR OBLIGATION TO TRANSFER THE AMOUNTS RECEIVED BY THE TOWN FROM SUCH COUNTY TAX TO THE TOWN RECREATION CENTER FUND IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON SUCH BONDS AND TO OTHERWISE COMPLY WITH THE COVENANTS OF THE ORDINANCE OR OTHER INSTRUMENTS GOVERNING SUCH BONDS; AND SHALL THE AMOUNTS DEPOSITED IN THE TOWN RECREATION CENTER FUND AND ALL EARNINGS THEREON (REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT) CONSTITUTE A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE, AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE REVENUE AND SPENDING LIMITS OF ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION; ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND AS FURTHER SET FORTH IN ORDINANCE 804 (SERIES 2014) OF THE TOWN COUNCIL?”

Ballot Question 1:

“Shall the Town of Pagosa Springs Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for compensation for the Mayor in the amount of $300 per month and compensation for all other Council Members in the amount of $200 per month?”

Ballot Question 2:

“Shall the Town of Pagosa Springs Home Rule Charter be amended to grant the municipal court authority to hear and try all matters arising under the Charter, the Town ordinances, and other enactments of the Town?”

Registering to vote

You may register to vote up to and including the day of the election at the Archuleta County Clerk’s office or the Town Hall.

You may also register to vote on the Secretary of State’s website at www.govotecolorado.com.

An individual must be a registered voter and a resident of the Town of Pagosa Springs to vote in the April 8 election.

shanti.johnson@pagosasun.com