Denver November 2003 Election
Here's a story from the Rocky Mountain News [September 19, 2003, "Tax conundrum"] about Amendment 32. From the article, "Opponents of Amendment 32 say one thing will happen if it passes: Residential property taxes will go up. But supporters say the increases would be minuscule and that they're desperately needed to help fund essential services such as those provided by fire and water districts. As a result, the total state property tax is divided unevenly. Businesses pick up 55 percent, homeowners 45 percent. But the residential boom of the 1990s caused housing prices to rise much faster than the value of business property. To keep the tax ratio constant at 45-55, residential property assessment rates dropped year after year. Currently, it's at 7.96 percent. It's expected to drop to 7.60 in 2006-07 and to 7.25 for taxes paid in 2008-09."
The Rocky Mountain News [September 19, 2003, "Wembley on hot seat"] is reporting that the primary organization opposing Amendment 33 has filed a complaint with the Secretary of State alleging that Wembley, the amendment's author, has not complied fully with state campaign laws. From the article, "Late Thursday, the secretary of state's office was drafting a letter asking the opposition committee to clarify its complaint to make sure it falls under the state's Fair Campaign Practices Act, said Lisa Doran, spokeswoman for the office. The complaint cites an Aug. 7 news release by Wembley PLC of England that said it already had spent a half-million pounds, about $800,000, and expected to spend $10 million on the measure, Amendment 33, and other "business expansion efforts" in Colorado. However, Wembley's name is never listed among the donors or companies pledging money to the proponents' campaign, Support Colorado's Economy and Environment, the complaint charges. Instead, five companies owned or controlled by Wembley's U.S. division contributed $2.195 million on nine different dates, according to the complaint. The companies are associated with the four racetracks that Wembley owns in Colorado."
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