[Board] Reminder – 2014 Election

keith.bierman at chnorthmetro.us keith.bierman at chnorthmetro.us
Mon Oct 13 12:27:34 EDT 2014


The Board of Directors of the Cherry Hills North Metro District would like to remind the neighborhood that election day is Tuesday, November 4, 2014.

 
The District election is being conducted as a mail ballot election.  Ballots will be mailed to each registered voter in the neighborhood on or before October 17, 2014.

 

You may check your voter registration status at www.arapahoevotes.com

Absentee and replacement ballots may only be obtained by contacting the District’s designated election official:

 

Local Election Office Information:
Sue Blair, Designated Election Official
Community Resource Services of Colorado, LLC
7995 E. Prentice Avenue, Suite 103E
Greenwood Village, CO  80111
(303) 381-4960

 

There will be one question on the ballot for the District.  Ballot Issue 5A proposes a tax increase of approximately $39,600 per year (approximately $22 per month per household) to ensure that the District is able to meet annual expenditures with annual revenues.

 

Pros & Cons of Ballot Issue 5A

 

Those IN FAVOR of the Ballot Issue believe that:

 

The District has provided vital sewage service since the inception of Cherry Hills North. The District inspects the main lines on a regular basis, removes obstructions, replaces or repairs damaged main lines on an as-needed basis, and implements other preventative measures when appropriate.  In addition, the District has agreements with neighboring Districts for regional outfall lines and pays annual treatment fees to the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District for sewage treatment costs. 
 
Adjusted for inflation, the District collects far less tax revenue on an annual basis now than when the Cherry Hills North neighborhood was new (back in the mid 1970’s and early 1980’s).  The District’s costs have increased – while tax revenues have declined.  This is not a sustainable model.  The District needs to be proactive in order to ensure that our sanitary sewer infrastructure remains in top operating condition and able to serve the neighborhood.
 
The District’s continued responsibility requires closing the current existing gap between revenue and expenses.  District revenues have decreased due to multiple factors including substantially reduced investment income.  The District’s fixed annual expenses have increased in recent years and are projected to continue to increase.

 
Those AGAINST the Ballot Issue believe that:

 
Most Districts employ a user fee model,  wherein residents that are served by the District receive a monthly, quarterly or annual bill. The mill levy approach results in very modest tax savings to residents and the cost of elections is nontrivial. The residents of the District would be better served by adopting a user fee model.

With user fees, the fees can be increased or decreased by the District on an as-needed basis to cover expenses.  User fees do not require a vote of neighborhood residents.  Increasing the mill levy in the future will require an additional vote of the neighborhood.   Instead of being asked to vote on future tax increases, the neighborhood can and should rely on the Board of the District to set the fees at a reasonable level.

The District is holding a special meeting on Wednesday, October 15, at 7:00 PM at the Village Center, 2450 E. Quincy Ave., Cherry Hills Village.  Should you have any questions regarding the proposed 2015 budget or Ballot Issue 5A, please plan on attending the special meeting.
 
 
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