Election 2019: Loveland voters appear to reject sales-tax issues

LOVELAND — Voters were issuing a resounding “no” in election results posted by 11:20 p.m. Tuesday night on two sales tax measures that were intended to support infrastructure and amenities in the Loveland community.

The Loveland City Council asked voters in two tax measures, 2A and 2B, whether to add additional sales taxes to support either community infrastructure projects such as streets and fire stations, or community recreational projects.

Issue 2A would increase the sales tax by rate 0.03 percent and collect an estimated $6.3 million in its first year. The money would be designated for widening of major streets such as Eisenhower Boulevard and Taft Avenue, replacement and renovation of fire stations, construction of pedestrian and bicycle underpasses, building a new branch library and renovating and expanding the museum.

Issue 2B would increase the sales-tax rate by 0.02 percent and collect an estimated $4.2 million in its first year, with the money to be used to build a recreational and senior center to be located in northwest Loveland.

Issue 2A was losing as of 11:20 p.m. with 11,179 votes against and 10,011 votes in favor. Issue 2B was losing by a larger margin, 13,284 votes against and 7,752in favor.

Christopher Wood

Christopher Wood is editor and publisher of BizWest, a regional business journal covering Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer and Weld counties. Wood co-founded the Northern Colorado Business Report in 1995 and served as publisher of the Boulder County Business Report until the two publications were merged to form BizWest in 2014. From 1990 to 1995, Wood served as reporter and managing editor of the Denver Business Journal. He is a Marine Corps veteran and a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder. He has won numerous awards from the Colorado Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists and the Alliance of Area Business Publishers.