Ballots due Nov. 5 — cast your vote!
Registered voters in Phillips County should be receiving their ballots in the mail right about now. To be counted, they must be received by the county clerk by Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. Simply having it postmarked before then does not count; the clerk must have it in hand.
Completed ballots can be returned to the clerk by mail to Phillips County Clerk and Recorder, 221 S. Interocean Ave., Holyoke, CO 80734 (with proper postage). They may also be submitted in person at the clerk’s office Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m.-noon; and Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
In Haxtun, ballots can be dropped off at 145 S. Colorado Ave., Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
A 24-hour drop box is also available in Holyoke across the street from the east parking lot of the Phillips County Court House.
State has 2 measures
Colorado voters are being asked to decide on two measures in this year’s election: Proposition CC and Proposition DD.
Proposition CC seeks to amend the Colorado statutes to:
— Allow the state government to keep all of the money it collects from existing sources every year beginning in the 2019-20 state budget year.
— Require that any money the state government keeps over its existing revenue limit be spent for public schools, higher education, and transportation projects, rather than refunded to taxpayers.
A “yes” vote means the law would be changed accordingly. A “no” vote means the existing law would remain and that any money the state collects over its revenue limit must be refunded to taxpayers.
Proposition DD seeks to:
— Legalize and regulate sports betting.
— Authorize a state tax on casinos’ net sports betting proceeds.
— Use sports betting taxes and fees to create a dedicated source of funding for water projects and water-related obligations and pay for the regulation of sports betting, a hold harmless fund and gambling addiction services.
Currently in the state of Colorado, sports betting is illegal, and a “no” vote on Proposition DD will keep it that way.
City measure seeks to change future election dates
Currently the City of Holyoke holds elections in April of even-numbered years. The City of Holyoke Ballot Question 2A would change the City’s elections to November of even-numbered years.
A “yes” vote means that the current mayor and city council members will have their terms extended seven months and the next election will be November 3, 2020. A “no” vote means that the next election for city council members will be April 7, 2020.
Those with terms expiring in 2020 are Mayor Orville Tonsing and council members Kevin Scott, Scott Murray and John Schneider. Council members with terms expiring in 2022 are Brian Akey, Steve Moore and Gene Bittner.
School measure would extend mill levy override
A 7-mill override has already been approved through tax year 2020, to be collected in 2021. Holyoke School District Re-1J Ballot Issue 5A seeks to extend that 7-mill override another five years to expire after collection year 2025.
The money collected would fund, among other things:
— Maintenance of existing facilities.
— Quality instructional and informational technology.
— Current instructional supplies and materials.
— Safe and reliable transportation fleet.
— Attracting and retaining qualified teachers and staff.
School board members are also up for election. Four people are running for four seats. They are incumbents Summer Maloney, Charles Lengfelder and Dustin Sprague along with newcomer Justin Clayton.