Slide 4.    Denver Metro Transportation Investments

In the last two election cycles, Adams, Douglas and Denver counties have won approval of countywide tax extensions and increases for local transportation projects and maintenance.

County Transportation Elections
County	Date	Type of Election	Percent Support
Adams	2006	Sales tax extension	63%
Douglas	2007	Sales tax extension	73%
Denver	2007	Property tax	67%
Ciruli Associates 2008

The three elections received bi-partisan support.  Polls conducted by Ciruli Associates in August in Adams, Denver and Douglas counties were within the margin of error of the final results, showing the strength and stability of public support for local transportation projects.  The proposals were well-positioned by county officials and other supporters, and no significant opposition surfaced.  Proponents conducted well-funded campaigns.

More than a decade of effort has been dedicated to developing sufficient, sustainable funding for state and local transportation.  Statewide ballot efforts have met with some, but limited, success.  In the 1990s, a gas tax and TABOR override for transportation were defeated.  In 1999, Governor Bill Owens’ federal gas tax bonds passed, as did an RTD TABOR override.  The Referendum C TABOR override, which included transportation funding, was approved in 2005.  However, Referendum D, which had explicit bonding funds for transportation construction, lost.

State and Regional Transportation Funding Initiatives Election Results 1997-2005
Date	Proposal	Support	Opposition	Total Vote
1997	Gas tax increase (Amend. 1)	14%	86%	695,000
1997	RTD Guide the Ride	42%	58%	384,000
1998	TABOR override (Ref. B)	38%	62%	1,243,000
1999	Federal gas tax bonds (Ref. A)	62%	38%	775,000
1999	RTD bonds TABOR override	66%	34%	438,000
2004	RTD FasTracks	58%	42%	1,068/000
2005	TABOR time-out (Ref. C)	52%	48%	1,153,000
2005	TABOR bonding (Ref. D)	49%	51%	1,149,000

Slide 5.    Weak Support for Extending TABOR “Time Out”

The Referendum C initiative was approved in 2005 by 52 percent of voters statewide.  It passed in the metro area by 54 percent, losing in Adams and Douglas counties and barely passing in Jefferson County.  In a September 2007 statewide poll, 51 percent of voters said they would not vote for another renewal, with only 41 percent supporting a future renewal.

While much of the political and economic leadership in the state support Referendum C, voters remain closely divided and very cautious on state spending issues.

Slide 6.    Increase in Severance Tax for Local Communities and Higher Education

A recent poll conducted in Mesa County, one of the state’s fastest growing counties and with considerable energy development, shows that the severance tax increase proposal to provide increased higher education and local impact funding has weak local support.  A projection based on the rates of partisan support in Mesa County show that the proposal would have only about 53 percent support statewide.

The lesson from the Referendum C results and poll and the severance tax poll is that raising revenue by way of statewide ballot initiatives is extremely difficult, and expecting more transportation funding from the state through a successful ballot issue is unlikely at this time.

Slide 7.    Fiscal Regionalism

The Denver metro area has had considerable success in developing cooperative strategies that use the existing structures of local government, but overlaying them with regional funding mechanisms for public purposes.  Voters have been willing to approve tax initiatives, especially sales taxes, for specific projects.  Beginning in 1988 with the 75 percent approval for the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, the metro area voters have been willing to approve specific programs and projects deemed of metro-wide importance.  For example, baseball and football stadiums and regional transit have won voters’ favor.

Slide 8.    Denver Metro Area Growth Continues

The latest U.S. Census data shows most metro area counties have grown rapidly since 2000, in spite of the recession of 2002-2003.  Adams, Broomfield and Douglas counties lead the seven-county region in population growth.  The implication is that growth continues and is meeting or exceeding expectations, resulting in increased transportation system usage and congestion.

Slide 9.    Seven Metro Counties and Unaffiliated Voters

An increase in statewide unaffiliated voter registration in the last few years suggests it may overtake Republican registration, which has led since 1992.  In fact, in three metro counties, unaffiliated voters already lead voter roles.  Because tax initiatives must go before voters, partisan support, while important, must be augmented by persuasive campaigns aimed at motivating unaffiliated voters.

Slide 10.  Denver-Boulder 1 of 40 Mega-Regions Worldwide

Richard Florida, famous for his report, “Rise of Creative Class,” has written a new study titled, “Who’s Your City?” In it, he lists the Front Range area (labeled “Denver-Boulder”) with 39 other metropolitan regions of the world he considers mega-centers of economic activity, having particularly high concentrations of talent, innovation and creativity.

He specifically cites the importance of roads and transportation, as well as civic and business leadership, in defining the leading areas.  “Who’s Your City?” is a good study to share with your local planners, economic development agencies and stakeholders.  It may also be a useful resource for developing regional initiatives and the momentum to achieve them.