[200] [201] [2A]

Question 200 - INITIATED ORDINANCE REGARDING REVENUE CHANGES

BALLOT TITLE:

"SHALL AN INITIATED ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED BY THE CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS WHICH SHALL READ AS FOLLOWS:

THE PROPERTY TAX IN TAX YEAR 2006 SHALL BE FOUR MILLS, AND THEREAFTER PHASED OUT ONE MILL OR MORE YEARLY. STARTING JANUARY 1, 2008, THE 2% GENERAL SALES TAX SHALL ADJUST TO 1.75% IN FIVE EQUAL YEARLY STEPS. ALL EXCESS REVENUE SHALL BE REFUNDED TO TAXPAYERS YEARLY. THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. THESE VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGES SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER TAX CUT OR REVENUE REDUCTION OR REFUND, AND MAY BE DELAYED ONLY AS NEEDED FOR CURRENT GENERAL FUND REVENUE TO INCREASE YEARLY BY FUTURE INFLATION. THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE AMENDED, SUPERSEDED, OR REPEALED ONLY AT A NOVEMBER ELECTION BY VOTER-APPROVED PETITIONS. ALL RELEVANT CURRENT PROVISIONS OF SECTION 7-90 OF THE CITY CHARTER AND ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION APPLY TO THIS ORDINANCE?"

[200] [201] [2A]

Question 201 - INITIATED ORDINANCE REGARDING DEFICIT SPENDING

BALLOT TITLE:

"SHALL AN INITIATED ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED BY THE CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS WHICH SHALL READ AS FOLLOWS:

FUTURE NON-ENTERPRISE CITY FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS THAT CONTINUE AFTER THE YEAR CREATED SHALL NOT EXCEED TEN YEARS. EACH SHALL REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL OF A SEPARATE PETITION AT A NOVEMBER ELECTION. TOTAL PAYMENTS DUE DURING ALL SUCH FUTURE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS COMBINED SHALL NOT EXCEED TEN PERCENT OF THE TAXABLE VALUATION FOR ASSESSMENT OF TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE CITY. STARTING JANUARY 2007, AND WITHOUT USING INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE, THE CITY SHALL RESERVE YEARLY THREE PERCENT OR MORE OF ITS FISCAL YEAR SPENDING IN AN INTEREST BEARING FUND WITH PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST TO BE USED ONLY TO BUY CITY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR CASH. THE CITY SHALL FULLY DEPLETE THAT FUND BEFORE INCURRING SUCH FUTURE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. ?CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS? MEANS REAL PROPERTY AND AFFIXED CONSTRUCTION WITH A USEFUL LIFE EXCEEDING 25 YEARS, BUT NOT SUCH FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, MAINTENANCE, OR CITY PAYROLL COSTS. ?CITY? ALSO INCLUDES ANY CITY-RELATED AUTHORITY OR OTHER NON-ENTERPRISE ENTITY. ?FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS? INCLUDES CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION, LEASES, CAPITAL LEASES, LEASE-PURCHASES, BONDS, MORTGAGES, DEBTS, NOTES, CONTRACTS, EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS, VACATION AND SICK PAY, AND ALL OTHER NON-PENSION MONETARY LIABILITIES WHATSOEVER, WHETHER OR NOT FUTURE PAYMENTS ARE CONTINGENT, SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATION, OR MADE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, UNLESS THE FULL AMOUNT OWED FOR ALL FUTURE PAYMENTS IS IRREVOCABLY PLEDGED AND HELD IN CASH. THIS ORDINANCE SHALL NOT IMPAIR ANY LAWFUL EXISTING CONTRACT AND SHALL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE AMENDED, SUPERSEDED, OR REPEALED ONLY AT A NOVEMBER ELECTION BY VOTER-APPROVED PETITIONS. ALL RELEVANT CURRENT PROVISIONS OF SECTION 7-90 OF THE CITY CHARTER AND ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION SHALL APPLY TO THIS ORDINANCE?"

[200] [201] [2A]

Question 2A - NONEXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE ? FALCON BROADBAND, INC.

BALLOT TITLE:

"SHALL A NONEXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE BE GRANTED TO FALCON BROADBAND, INC. FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEM AND TO PROVIDE CABLE TELEVISION SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS ("CITY"), PROVIDING FOR GRANTS TO THE CITY FOR EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ACCESS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS, REQUIRING ADDITIONAL CHANNELS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ACCESS, PROVIDING FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDARDS, REQUIRING CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS, PROVIDING FOR REGULATION OF RATES AND CHARGES AS SHOULD BE ALLOWED BY LAW, REQUIRING INSURANCE, BONDS, AND IMPOSING OTHER REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND FALCON BROADBAND, INC. FOR A TERM NOT TO EXCEED TEN (10) YEARS AS APPROVED BY ORDINANCES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS, AND EXEMPTING ANY REVENUES PAID BY FALCON BROADBAND, INC. TO THE CITY PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT FROM THE TAXPAYER?S BILL OF RIGHTS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "TABOR" (COLORADO CONSTITUTION ARTICLE XX, SECTION 10 AND CITY CHARTER ARTICLE VII, SECTION 7-90) WITH THIS REVENUE BEING EXEMPT FROM TABOR SPENDING/REVENUE LIMITATIONS?"