Your Guide to Denver’s 2022 Ballot Measures

By now, most Coloradans should have received their ballots in the mail, and it’s high time to make some decisions on the seven questions facing voters in the Mile High City. These local measures are in addition to the numerous statewide races and measures found elsewhere on the ballot—you can read 5280’s statewide ballot guide here—which makes this midterm election a hefty one for Denverites.

But don’t stress! Below, we’ve provided a run-down of the seven specific ballot questions that Denver residents face, all of which require a simple majority to pass.

Note: The general election is on November 8; mail-in ballots must be postmarked by October 31. Register to vote online here. Find our guide to the Colorado state ballot here.

Initiated Ordinance 305

What it asks:

Known as “No Eviction Without Representation,” this measure asks whether Denver landlords should be charged an annual fee of $75 per rental unit to fund a city-run program that would provide free legal assistance to tenants facing evictions.

The details:

According to data published by the city, an average of 9,000 evictions were filed each year between 2010 and 2019. Tenants in eviction proceedings face an uphill battle countering their landlords if they do not have legal representation—and tenants win cases much more often when they do. According to a campaign website, that’s why a grassroots group of activists collected signatures to put this initiative on the ballot. The campaign has raised approximately $94,000, with about a third of that coming from the ACLU of Colorado and Democratic Socialists of America.

Opposition groups have raised double that—approximately $180,000—with more than half of those contributions coming from the Apartment Association of Metro Denver. These folks say that the city already has an eviction defense program and that landlords will likely raise rent to pass any new fees on to tenants.

Initiated Ordinance 306

What it asks:

Titled “Waste No More,” this measure asks whether the city should require all Denver businesses (and large apartment complexes) to offer recycling and composting.

The details:

Colorado has a poor reputation when it comes to recycling. This measure would require all Denver businesses—including restaurants, venues, hotels, and even food trucks—to provide recycling and composting options beginning in 2023. The city’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) would be in charge of overseeing rules around the program and issuing fines for noncompliance. This could cost the city millions of dollars to implement, and has drawn some criticism—although no formal opposition committee has been formed—from the Apartment Association of Metro Denver, which points out that Denver is already starting a pay-as-you-throw model of trash and recycling collection.

Proponents of Waste No More, which include Conservation Colorado and the People’s Climate Campaign, have collectively contributed around $55,000 to try to pass the measure on November 8.

Initiated Ordinance 307

What it asks:

“Denver Deserves Sidewalks,” as the measure is known, seeks to charge homeowners in the county to fund sidewalk repair and maintenance across the Mile High City.

The details:

The way our city’s policies are currently written, Denver homeowners are responsible for maintaining and repairing the sidewalks on their properties. Some landlords have been responsible stewards of their sidewalks—investing to repair them when needed—while others have let sidewalks lapse into disrepair. An advocacy group called the Denver Streets Partnership believes that shifting sidewalk maintenance responsibilities to the city will lead to more consistent walkways throughout Denver—but funding would be needed. If Initiated Ordinance 307 passes, its proponents claim that homeowners will be charged anywhere from $2.15 to $107.50 per year to fund city sidewalk maintenance, depending on the location of their property and how much of it faces public streets. The campaign has raised $245,000 in support with significant contributions from Bicycle Colorado.

There is no formal opposition committee, but some city officials, including Councilman Kevin Flynn, have raised doubts about the proponents’ fee calculations, warning that costs for some homeowners could be much higher.

Referred Question 2I

What it asks:

This ballot measure asks voters to raise property taxes to support Denver’s library system.

The details:

If question 2I passes, it will increase the mill levy by 1.5 on Denver property taxes—which would raise property taxes by roughly $4.19 per month for the average homeowner. This would create an estimated $36 million to support Denver’s library system, including higher pay for librarians and more technology services. The Denver Public Library Friends Foundation has contributed $315,000 toward passing the question.

There is no formal opposition to this measure, although it remains to be seen whether Denverites will approve a property tax increase during a time of inflation.

Referred Question 2J

What it asks:

This measure asks voters whether the city can keep and spend $1.3 million in revenue it has already collected from a climate-related sales tax that Denverites approved in 2020.

The details:

You can thank TABOR—the Taxpayer Bill of Rights—for this question. Because the city collected a whopping $1.3 million more than initially estimated on a 0.25 percent sales tax voters approved in 2020 to fund climate initiatives, TABOR requires the city to ask voters whether it must keep the money or return it. There are no formal committees supporting or opposing the measure, but most organizations (including the Downtown Denver Partnership) support it. The climate sales tax helps fund Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resilience.

Referred Question 2K

What it asks:

This measure asks voters whether the city can keep and spend revenue it has collected from a sales tax to fund homelessness services.

The details:

Like question 2J, this ballot measure is required by TABOR. And it, too, concerns another approximately $1.3 million in revenue that the city raised through an additional 0.25 percent sales tax voters approved in 2020 to fund homelessness initiatives. The measure has no formal opposition.

Referred Question 2L

What it asks:

This measure asks voters whether the city can update rules around ballot titles and election procedures, including creating clearer ballot language and expanding signature-collecting timelines.

The details:

This measure comes from a committee convened by Denver clerk and recorder Paul López and councilmember Kendra Black who had looked at ways to “modernize” the county’s elections. The group came up with a number of recommendations about how to make citizen-led initiatives easier for voters to digest, including requiring such measures to only have a single subject (to address only one area) and allowing the city to review the ballot titles to ensure clear and concise language. Additionally, question 2L would move up deadlines for candidates to be certified. The issue has no formal opposition committees.