2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 32 - SPECIAL DISTRICTS (§§ 32-1-101 — 32-22-117) › SPECIAL STATUTORY DISTRICTS (§§ 32-8-101 — 32-22-117) › Article 15 - METROPOLITAN FOOTBALL STADIUM DISTRICT ACT (§§ 32-15-101 — 32-15-133) › Section 32-15-107 - Authorizing election

(1)
(a)
For purposes of complying with the provisions of section 20 (4) of article X of the state constitution and upon receipt of a notice from the secretary of state stating that a valid petition has been filed and verified and the adoption of a resolution by the board as set forth in section
32-15-106 (1)(f)
, the board may submit to the registered electors within the geographical boundaries of the district, at the 1998 general election, the question of whether the district shall be authorized:
(I)
(A)
To levy and collect, for a period commencing after the termination of the sales tax levied and collected by the Denver metropolitan major league baseball stadium district pursuant to section
32-14-105
and continuing for a period not to extend beyond January 1, 2012, a uniform sales tax throughout the district at a rate not to exceed one-tenth of one percent upon every transaction or other incident with respect to which a sales tax is levied by the state, pursuant to the provisions of article
26
of title
39
, C.R.S.; except that such sales tax shall be levied on purchases of machinery or machine tools that are otherwise exempt pursuant to section
39-26-709 (1)
, C.R.S., to the extent that such purchases are subject to the sales tax levied by the regional transportation district pursuant to section
29-2-105 (1)(d)
, C.R.S., to be held and distributed pursuant to the provisions of section
32-15-111
; and
(B)
To levy and collect a tax upon admissions to a new stadium pursuant to section
32-15-110.5
for a period not to extend beyond January 1, 2012, and at a rate not to exceed ten percent upon every purchase of admission to such stadium, to be held and distributed pursuant to the provisions of section
32-15-111
; and
(II)
To incur multiple-fiscal year financial obligations to be repaid from other multiple-fiscal year financial obligations of the district or the revenues collected by the district, or both, and to refund and refinance the bond anticipation notes and special obligation bonds authorized without further approval of the voters even if, in the case of refinancing or refunding of bond anticipation notes, such refinancing or refunding is at a higher interest rate.
(b)
The summary for such petition shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following statements:
(I)
That the district will levy and collect the sales tax specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) for a period of time commencing after the termination of the sales tax levied and collected by the Denver metropolitan major league baseball stadium district pursuant to section
32-14-105
and continuing for a period not to extend beyond January 1, 2012;
(II)
The month, day, and year on which the sales tax levied and collected by the Denver metropolitan major league baseball stadium district is projected to terminate and the month, day, and year on which the sales tax levied and collected by the metropolitan football stadium district is projected to commence; and
(III)
A statement that the maximum principal amount of moneys to be raised by the district for payment of costs of construction of the stadium through the issuance of multiple-fiscal year financial obligations is two hundred sixty-six million dollars.
(c)
The board may submit the question set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) to the registered electors of the district:
(I)
After being presented with a notice from the secretary of state stating that a valid petition requesting the submittal of the question that is signed by the registered electors within the geographical boundaries of the district in an amount equal to at least five percent of the total number of votes cast within the geographical boundaries of the district for all candidates for the office of secretary of state at the previous general election has been filed and stating that the signatures on the petition have been verified in accordance with subsections (2) and (3) of this section; and
(II)
After the adoption of a resolution by the board as set forth in section
32-15-106 (1)(f)
.
(d)
(I)
Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (III) of this paragraph (d), at the election, the question appearing on the ballot shall be determined as follows:
(A)
In the event that the board has determined that it is more cost effective and economically viable to renovate Mile High stadium than to build a new stadium, the question appearing on the ballot shall be as follows:
"SHALL THE METROPOLITAN FOOTBALL STADIUM DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED (
FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR DOLLAR INCREASE
) ANNUALLY AND BY WHATEVER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER FROM THE LEVY AND COLLECTION BY THE DISTRICT OF A ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT SALES AND USE TAX FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXTEND BEYOND JANUARY 1, 2012, OR UPON PAYMENT OF THE SPECIAL OBLIGATION BONDS, WHICHEVER OCCURS EARLIER, COMMENCING AFTER THE TERMINATION OF THE SALES AND USE TAX LEVIED AND COLLECTED BY THE DENVER METROPOLITAN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM DISTRICT, WITH ALL OF THE PROCEEDS TO BE USED AND SPENT, ALONG WITH FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES INCLUDING THE PRIVATE SECTOR, FOR THE COSTS RELATING TO THE RENOVATION OF MILE HIGH STADIUM; AND SHALL THE METROPOLITAN FOOTBALL STADIUM DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE MULTIPLE-FISCAL YEAR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS PAYABLE FROM THE PROCEEDS OF SAID ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT SALES AND USE TAX AND SAID FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES, WHICH AUTHORIZATION SHALL INCLUDE THE AUTHORITY TO REFUND SUCH MULTIPLE-FISCAL YEAR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND REFUNDING SPECIAL OBLIGATION BONDS WITHOUT ADDITIONAL VOTER APPROVAL?"
(B)
In the event that the board has determined that it is more cost effective and economically viable to build a new stadium than to renovate Mile High stadium, the question appearing on the ballot shall be as follows:
"SHALL THE METROPOLITAN FOOTBALL STADIUM DISTRICT DEBT BE INCREASED (
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
), WITH A REPAYMENT COST OF (
MAXIMUM TOTAL DISTRICT COSTS
) AND SHALL DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED (
FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR DOLLAR INCREASE
) ANNUALLY AND BY WHATEVER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER FROM THE LEVY AND COLLECTION BY THE DISTRICT OF [A (____) PERCENT ADMISSIONS TAX AND FROM THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF] [THIS CLAUSE TO BE INSERTED IF DETERMINED TO BE APPROPRIATE BY THE DISTRICT] A ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT SALES AND USE TAX WITH ALL OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH DEBT AND TAXES TO BE USED AND SPENT, TOGETHER WITH FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES INCLUDING THE PRIVATE SECTOR, FOR THE COSTS RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW FOOTBALL STADIUM TO BE LOCATED WITHIN THE DISTRICT SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING LIMITATIONS:
* THE SALES AND USE TAX SHALL COMMENCE AFTER THE TERMINATION OF THE SALES AND USE TAX LEVIED AND COLLECTED BY THE DENVER METROPOLITAN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM DISTRICT AND SHALL NOT EXTEND BEYOND JANUARY 1, 2012, OR THE PAYMENT IN FULL OF SUCH DEBT, WHICHEVER OCCURS EARLIER;
* [THE DEBT SHALL BE EVIDENCED BY NOTES, BONDS, OR CONTRACTS INCLUDING NOTES, BONDS, OR CONTRACTS TO REFUND OTHER NOTES, BONDS, OR CONTRACTS EVEN IF THE REFUNDING IS AT A HIGHER RATE OF INTEREST;] [THIS PARAGRAPH TO BE INSERTED IF DETERMINED TO BE APPROPRIATE BY THE DISTRICT]
* THE DEBT SHALL BE PAYABLE FROM THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH TAX, INVESTMENT INCOME, AND SUCH OTHER DISTRICT REVENUES AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY PLEDGE FOR SUCH PAYMENT;
* THE DEBT SHALL HAVE SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DISTRICT MAY DETERMINE, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR REDEMPTION PRIOR TO MATURITY WITH OR WITHOUT PAYMENT OF THE PREMIUM;
* [THE ADMISSIONS TAX SHALL NOT EXTEND BEYOND JANUARY 1, 2012, OR THE PAYMENT IN FULL OF SUCH DEBT, WHICHEVER OCCURS EARLIER;] [THIS PARAGRAPH TO BE INSERTED IF DETERMINED TO BE APPROPRIATE BY THE DISTRICT]
AND SHALL THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH DEBT AND TAXES AND ANY INVESTMENT INCOME THEREFROM AND ANY OTHER REVENUES OF THE DISTRICT BE COLLECTED AND SPENT WITHOUT LIMITATION OR CONDITION, AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER SECTION 20 OF ARTICLE X OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW?"
(II)
Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (III) of this paragraph (d), the ballot title shall be a statement of the language included in the question set forth in sub-subparagraph (B) of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (d); except that the title shall substitute the words "THE METROPOLITAN FOOTBALL STADIUM DISTRICT DEBT SHALL BE INCREASED" for "SHALL THE METROPOLITAN FOOTBALL STADIUM DISTRICT DEBT BE INCREASED", shall substitute the words "DISTRICT TAXES SHALL BE INCREASED" for the words "SHALL DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED", and shall substitute the words "THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH DEBT AND TAXES AND ANY INVESTMENT INCOME THEREFROM AND ANY OTHER REVENUES OF THE DISTRICT SHALL BE" for the words "SHALL THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH DEBT AND TAXES AND ANY INVESTMENT INCOME THEREFROM AND ANY OTHER REVENUES OF THE DISTRICT BE", and the title shall end with a period instead of a question mark.
(III)
The ballot question specified in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (d) may be modified by the proponents of a petition or by the district to the extent necessary to conform to the legal requirements for ballot questions and titles.
(IV)
If at any election a majority of the registered electors within the geographical boundaries of the district voting on the question vote affirmatively on the question specified in paragraph (d) of this subsection (1), then the sales tax and the admissions tax shall be levied, collected, and distributed as provided for in this article.
(2)
The provisions of article
40
of title
1
, C.R.S., regarding the following subject matter shall apply to petitions that may be submitted pursuant to subsection (1) of this section: Form requirements and approval; circulation of petitions; elector information and signatures on petitions; affidavits and requirements of circulators of petitions; and verification of signatures, including, but not limited to, cure of an insufficiency of signatures and protests regarding sufficiency statements and procedures for hearings or further appeals regarding such protests. The provisions of article
40
of title
1
, C.R.S., regarding review and comment, the setting of a ballot title, including, but not limited to, the duties of the title board, rehearings and appeals, and the number of signatures required shall not apply to petitions that may be submitted pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.
(3)
Any petition shall be filed with the secretary of state at least ninety days before the 1998 general election. Any petition shall be valid only for the 1998 general election. Notice of any question to be submitted to the registered electors within the geographical boundaries of the district after verification of the signatures on any petition filed with the secretary of state and at which election such question shall be submitted shall be filed by the board in the office of the secretary of state prior to fifty-five days before such election.
(4)
(a)
For purposes of complying with the provisions of section 20 of article X of the state constitution and upon the adoption of a resolution by the board, the board may submit to the registered electors within the geographical boundaries of the district, at a general election or at an election held on the first Tuesday in November of an odd-numbered year, the question of whether the district is authorized to collect and spend revenues in excess of the fiscal year spending limitation of the district.
(b)
If at any such election a majority of the registered electors within the geographical boundaries of the district voting on the question vote affirmatively on the question of whether the district is authorized to collect and spend excess revenues, then the district shall collect and spend such revenues as provided for in this article.
(5)
The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning the sales tax shall not be applicable if the authority of the district to levy and collect any sales tax approved by the registered electors has expired pursuant to the provisions of this article. The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning the admissions tax shall not be applicable if the authority of the district to levy and collect any admissions tax approved by the registered electors has expired pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(6)
Prior to the general election at which any question is to be submitted to the registered electors pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the board shall hold at least two public hearings in each of the counties included, in whole or in part, within the district.
(7)
No public moneys from the state, any city, town, city and county, or county shall be expended by the public entity or by any private entity or private person to advertise, promote, or purchase commercial promotion or advertisement to urge electors to vote in favor of or against any question submitted at an election pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(8)
Prior to submitting a question to the registered electors of the district pursuant to this section, the district shall enter into an agreement with the franchise requiring the franchise to pay for all costs of the district associated with the election at which the question is submitted to the voters pursuant to this section.
L. 96: Entire article added, p. 1063, § 1, effective May 23. L. 97: (1)(d)(I) amended, p. 1494, § 4, effective June 3. L. 98: (1)(a), (1)(b)(III), (1)(d)(I)(B), (1)(d)(II), (1)(d)(III), (1)(d)(IV), (3), (5), and (6) amended and (8) added, p. 503, § 4, effective April 22. L. 2004: (1)(a)(I)(A) amended, p. 1043, § 11, effective July 1.
The measure regarding the new football stadium contained in subsection (1)(d)(I)(B) was approved by the people at the general election held November 3, 1998, and the vote count was as follows:
FOR: 399,064
AGAINST: 303,327