About the Measure

Jefferson County is at a crossroads. With a constantly growing population and escalating costs to maintain essential services, our county is facing serious funding challenges. 

A yes vote on County Ballot Issue 1A would allow the county to retain and spend the revenue above mandated caps in two critical areas: public safety and roads. 

The ballot question asks voters if Jefferson County shall be authorized to collect, retain, and spend the full revenues from authorized revenue sources beginning in Fiscal Year 2024 without increasing the tax rate or mill levy rate.

The funds would be used for: 

1) Transportation and infrastructure, including fixing roads, potholes, and bridges.

2) Public safety, including crime prevention, wildfire and flood mitigation, and mental health.

This is not a tax increase. It’s about keeping the money the county has already collected to invest the funds in vital county services. 

Currently, the county returns a portion of funds over the mandated cap to taxpayers in the form of a refund check every year. Jeffco is one of only two counties statewide that has not yet lifted the cap.

While your taxes do not increase, your county refund check would now be invested in public safety and roads if voters approve the ballot question. The measure does not affect your refund check from the state.

The county also would be authorized in perpetuity to collect full revenues just as 62 out 64 counties already do in Colorado. 

State grants for wildfire, roads, crime prevention and other county services would no longer count against the county’s cap. 

Annual audits will ensure funds are spent on roads and public safety to ensure accountability and transparency.

Ballot Measure Language

Without increasing any tax rate or mill levy rate, and to fund:

  • Transportation and infrastructure (building, maintaining, and repairing roads, bridges, potholes, and other county infrastructure); and

  • Public safety (wildfire and flood mitigation and response, addiction and mental health programs, crime prevention programs and strategies, and other county public safety functions);

Shall Jefferson County be authorized to collect, retain, and spend the full revenues from authorized revenue sources beginning in fiscal year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter; 

And shall resulting revenue and earnings be treated as a voter-approved revenue change authorized by Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado constitution or any other law; 

And shall resulting revenue and earnings be reviewed annually by an independent auditor and a citizens advisory committee?

Why is this Important?

For years, Jefferson County has been constrained by the state law (click here for an overview), which caps the amount of revenue the county can retain and spend, regardless of how much it actually collects. 

As costs rise and our population grows, the county’s ability to provide essential services—like road and bridge repair, wildfire mitigation, and mental health programs—has been severely strained. 

Since 2020, the General Fund budget has been cut by $24.8 million, with no room left to absorb further losses.

A YES vote on this measure ensures Jefferson County can continue to maintain and improve the quality of life for all residents by supporting critical programs and services without increasing your taxes.

Key Benefits

  • Public Safety: Support for wildfire mitigation, flood response, and crime prevention programs will keep our communities safer.

  • Roads and Infrastructure: Funds will go towards repairing and maintaining our roads and bridges, ensuring safe and smooth transportation for everyone.