As the leaves start to turn, we know that soon we’ll also need to turn in our ballots. As a non-profit, our Alliance never suggests who to vote for. However, we can offer our take on ballot measures that relate to our work. Over the summer, we’ve had eye-opening conversations at the doors in our communities, and heard common themes across the West Slope. Among those recurring issues is a deeply expressed need for affordable housing and continued support for youth and education.

As a result, our Mesa County team is digging into what can be done locally to address affordable housing. In the meantime, they are glad to see Proposition 123 — the “Make Colorado Affordable” campaign — on the statewide ballot.

Proposition 123

According to Colorado Public Radio, our state will need 325,000 new homes over the next few years alone. Right now, Colorado has a housing gap of 114, 378 homes for low-income families who live well below the area median income.

Without a tax increase, Prop 123 would set aside 0.1% of the state’s current income tax revenue and this fund would build 10,000 more affordable units every year in Colorado. The measure would set up a dedicated yearly fund of nearly $300 million toward affordable housing.

· 60% of the dedicated revenues would go toward affordable housing financing programs that will reduce rents, purchase land for affordable housing development, and build assets for renters.

· 40% of the dedicated revenues would go toward programs that support affordable home ownership, serve persons experiencing homelessness, and support local planning capacity.

Another measure on the ballot is one that our West Slope Youth Voice students tracked and supported in the legislature earlier in the year. Now, they are excited to see the referred measure on the ballot and are eager to support Proposition FF — the “Healthy School Meals for All” campaign.

Proposition FF

This measure ensures access to free and nutritious meals for all students in public schools.

·         Right now, more than 60,000 kids in Colorado can’t afford school meals, but don’t qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and two out of every five Colorado families struggle to put food on the table for their children.

·         Beyond feeding our students, Proposition FF will provide the resources our schools need to prepare meals from scratch with healthy and nutritious ingredients and funding for schools to purchase ingredients from Colorado farmers and ranchers to use.

·         Proposition FF gives every Colorado kid a better shot at success by ensuring they have healthy meals.

Our Alliance is also supportive of Proposition GG, which would add an income tax change table to the ballot when voters are asked to consider tax changes; however we oppose Proposition 121, which would reduce state income tax from 4.55% to 4.40%, a seemingly small amount that is estimated to reduce the state budget by $412.6 million. That’s a decrease that would impact rural communities.

 Starting mid-October we’ll be out talking with voters about the upcoming election, and in particular highlighting these two ballot issues. We’d love for you to join us! We’ll be sending out canvassing dates in just a few days, so keep an eye out and come on out!