Ballot Issue 302 - Sales Tax Extension for Open Space

WITHOUT RAISING ADDITIONAL TAXES, SHALL THE CITY'S EXISTING 0.25% SALES AND USE TAX (25 CENTS ON A $100 PURCHASE), AUTHORIZED BY CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE NO. 1, 2002, FOR THE ACQUISITION, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATIONS OF NATURAL AREAS, BE EXTENDED, WITHOUT EXPIRATION, FROM ITS CURRENT EXPIRATION AT THE END OF 2030; PROVIDED THAT REVENUES DERIVED FROM SUCH TAX EXTENSION SHALL BE USED TO ACQUIRE, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN NATURAL AREAS, OPEN SPACES, COMMUNITY SEPARATORS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, RIVER, STREAMS, RIPARIAN AREAS, WETLANDS, AND BIODIVERSE LANDSCAPES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPROPRIATE USE AND ENJOYMENT OF THEM BY THE CITIZENRY CONSISTENT WITH CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE NO. 2, 2025, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING CHANGES FROM THE 2002 ORDINANCE: * BEGINNING IN 2061, REDUCE THE MINIMUM PERCENTAGE OF ANNUAL REVENUE THAT MUST BE SPENT ON LAND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES, AS DEFINED IN THE ORDINANCE, TO 70% (INSTEAD OF 80%); * BEGINNING IN 2061, INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PERCENTAGE OF ANNUAL REVENUE THAT MAY BE SPENT ON OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES, AS DEFINED IN THE ORDINANCE, TO 30% (INSTEAD OF 20%); * TREAT IMPROVING ACQUIRED LANDS BY RESTORING, ENHANCING, AND MAINTAINING NATIVE PLANT AND ANIMAL COMMUNITIES FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF IMPROVING THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF PROTECTED LANDS AS "LAND CONSERVATION ACTIVITY"; AND * CLARIFY OTHER LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE CITY'S NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM. AND PROVIDED THAT ALL REVENUES FROM THE TAX EXTENSION MAY BE RETAINED AND EXPENDED BY THE CITY NOTWITHSTANDING ANY STATE REVENUE OR EXPENDITURE LIMITATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION?