Voters soundly rejected Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 on Tuesday.
Amendment 60 was opposed by 77 percent of voters. The amendment would have reduced property taxes on a $300,000 house by $376, according to a September state Legislative Council memo to the General Assembly. The bulk of that would have come from slashing school-related property taxes, but the measure would also have substantially impacted special districts, which predominate in mountain communities.
Amendment 61 was opposed by 76 percent of voters. It would have limited borrowing by state or local governments and required voter approval for future loans.
Proposition 101 was opposed by 71 percent of voters. It would have reduced specific ownership taxes over a four-year period to $2 per new vehicle and $1 for older vehicles, and reduced annual registration and title fees to $10 per vehicle.
All three ballot measures were opposed by several fire and water/wastewater districts in the mountain areas of Jefferson County, including Elk Creek Fire Protection District, Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue, Evergreen Fire/Rescue and the Evergreen Metro District.
The measures were the work of anti-tax activist Douglas Bruce, who authored the Tabor Amendment to the state constitution. Bruce's latest brainchildren were widely opposed as devastating to governments and schools throughout the state.