Town of Lyons: Two issues on Ballot, to vote on
EDITOR’s QUESTION TO LYONS MAYOR HOLLIE ROGIN: Could you please provide a statement of why you are proposing these measures, and why it would be good for town residents.
Mayor Hollie Rogin’s response:
the Board of Trustees does not and can not endorse any local ballot measure. We simply put them on the ballot for voters to decide.
There is a pro statement in the blue book for measure 2G; no con statements were submitted.
Measure 2H was put on the ballot because there has been interest from arts and culture organizations and nonprofits to use land that is zoned Parks and Open Space. Any change in POS land use must go to the voters to decide.
Measure 2G was put on the ballot so that voters can decide whether to change lodging tax from a flat $2/night per room or campsite to a percentage of the cost of a room or campsite. If approved by voters, the Town will collect 5% of the cost of a room or campsite, and the BoT can raise that to 8% by resolution.
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EDITOR’s NOTES: If residents would like to know how these issues came about, the discussion, and conclusions, you will need to go to the Town’s web page and read the minutes or view the video of the bi-monthly meetings. This newspaper was not provided with a summary.
The last BOT Minutes posted online (as of 10/18/22) are September 6, 2022. Minutes are supposed to be completed by 10 days after the meeting — but discussion of this ballot item would have happened months ago in order to meet the deadline to be on the ballot. Go to: BOARD OF TRUSTEE / MINUTES. Trustees and Mayor are available to the public, and you can write them at their email address. Here is a LIST.
Town of Lyons Ballot Question 2H
Shall the permitted and conditional uses of the Parks and Open Space (POS) zoning district be expanded to allow for arts and cultural facilities as a permitted use and non-profit facilities as a conditional use within the POS zone?
Town of Lyons Ballot Issue 2G
SHALL THE TOWN OF LYONS CHANGE THE TOWN’S LODGING OCCUPATION TAX FROM $2.00 PER DAY PER OCCUPIED LODGING ROOM OR ACCOMMODATION, INCLUDING CAMPING OR CAMPSITES, AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS, TO UP TO 8% OF THE COST OF THE RENTAL FEE, PRICE, OR OTHER CONSIDERATION PAID, WITH THE INITIAL RATE SET AT 5%, ADJUSTABLE BY RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, COMMENCING ON BOOKINGS MADE AFTER JANUARY 1, 2023, INCREASING TAX REVENUES UP TO $135,000 THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR AND WHATEVER AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, TO BE USED TO ADDRESS VISITOR IMPACTS AND FUND COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AS DETERMINED BY THE TOWN OF LYONS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WITH ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS USED TO FUND ANY LAWFUL MUNICIPAL PURPOSE AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES; AND SHALL THE TOWN BE PERMITTED TO COLLECT, RETAIN, AND EXPEND ALL REVENUES DERIVED FROM SUCH TAX AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND AN EXCEPTION TO LIMITS WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW?
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