Sports gambling gets narrow nod; Proposition CC defeated
Two statewide issues were on the ballot Nov. 5, with Colorado’s Proposition DD narrowly passing and CC being defeated.
The passage of DD on a 51.4%-48.6% margin legalized sports gambling in the state, with taxes paid by casinos to be used to fund the state water plan.
While the proposition passed, it was not favored by Phillips County voters, where the results showed 581 in favor and 961 opposed to DD.
Colorado Proposition CC failed with 46.3% for and 53.7% against. Phillips County vote totals showed a much wider margin with 23.3% for and 76.7% against.
If CC had passed, the state would have been allowed to retain revenue above the state spending cap to provide funding for transportation and education.
With its failure, however, the state is required to continue issuing refunds under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights when revenue collected exceeds the state’s annual revenue limit.
Phillips County reports 48% voter turnout
Phillips County Clerk & Recorder Beth Zilla reported that 1,565 ballots were cast in the county for a 48% voter turnout from the 3,256 registered voters in last week’s election.
This compares to a 44.75% turnout in the 2017 election. Phillips County voter turnout for the mid-term election in 2018 was 64.5%, while in the 2016 presidential election year, this county’s voter turnout was 75%.
As reported in last week’s Enterprise, the ballot measures proposed by the City of Holyoke and Holyoke School District both passed.
The 471-138 vote for the City measure will change future election dates to November of even-numbered years instead of April.
Holyoke School District Re-1J voters extended a 7-mill override in the mill levy for another five years, to expire after collection year 2025.
The vote totals after election night found the measure passing 592-418.
Four candidates were on the ballot for four open school board seats. All four were elected, including newcomer Justin Clayton and incumbents Chas Lengfelder, Summer Maloney and Dusty Sprague.