After close race, Boulder keeps municipalization efforts alive

BOULDER — Boulder’s municipalization future just barely held on, with just 51.71 percent in favor of continuing funding the effort to create the city’s own electric utility.

Extending and increasing the utility tax (issue 2L on the ballot) was one of three key municipalization-related votes in Boulder. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the votes were swinging the other way, with 50.22 percent against extending the tax. Were the issue to faile, it would have ended the city’s seven-year quest to separate from Xcel Energy and form its own municipal utility, unless it found alternative funding.

Although funding will continue, the city still needs to determine how much is needed to fund forming the municipal utility itself, including acquiring Xcel’s assets. Issue 2O requires another vote to be held before Boulder issued debt to construct the utility. That measure is passing with 82.82 percent of the vote thus far.

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Business Cares: May 2024

As Mental Health Awareness Month unfolds in Colorado, it serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to prioritize mental well-being.

So far, 92,811 ballots have been counted. About 94,340 votes were expected, as of Wednesday.

A Boulder municipalization ballot item with decidedly more votes against it is 2P, with 56.55 percent of voters so far against allowing executive sessions for municipalization to continue. That measure, were it to pass, allows the city council to meet in closed sessions to discuss municipalization, but decisions would have to be made in public meetings.

Broadband

Although Boulder’s future of municipalization is still too close to call, it looks like the votes on authorizing to provide broadband services across the Front Range is more clear, although still unofficial.

In Boulder County, 83 percent are in favor of the county providing broadband, with 17 percent against.

In Greeley, the city providing high-speed internet and other connectivity passed with 61.11 percent in favor and 38.89 percent against.

Although still unofficial, the issue also passed in Fort Collins, with 57.15 percent in favor.

Broomfield oil & gas 

Voters passed the controversial ballot item 301, which gives Broomfield more local oversight over oil and gas operations in the city. Those in favor of the measure lead with 57.5 percent of the vote. It is likely the energy sector will issue a legal challenge over the decision.

Greeley-Evans mill levy override

Voters passed ballot issue 3A with 59.21 percent, which passed a mill levy override to raise property taxes and fund Greeley-Evans School District 6. The issue had been in the making for nearly a decade, the third attempt in eight years to pass an MLO. Property taxes will now increase by about $14 million per year for the next seven years.