5 local elections to watch beyond Boulder
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From creating a new town to raising taxes and rewriting election rules, Boulder County and Broomfield voters have a variety of big local decisions to make Tuesday.
Why it matters: The results could change who calls the shots in local government, how residents vote and where millions in tax revenue go.
Here are five local races and issues we're watching:
🏘️ 1. Will Niwot become Colorado's newest town?
Niwot voters will decide whether to turn their unincorporated community into an independent municipality, giving residents more say over development, roads and taxes.
- Voters will also decide whether to create a home-rule charter and choose nine commissioners from a field of 28 candidates.
- Separate measures would establish a 2.5% sales tax and a 4-mill property tax, plus authorize up to $15 million in borrowing for transportation infrastructure.
- Yes, but: Even if incorporation passes, voters would still need to approve a future home-rule charter.
🏨 2. Broomfield tourists could pay more
Broomfield voters will decide whether to nearly quadruple the city's lodging tax from 1.6% to 6% to help fund affordable housing.
- Ballot Issue 1A would raise an estimated $3.3 million in its first year from hotel and short-term rental stays.
- The money would go to the Broomfield Housing Alliance to preserve and expand housing opportunities.
- The big picture: The increase would make overnight stays more expensive as nearby Boulder gears up for the Sundance Film Festival.
- Also on the ballot: Question 1C would extend mayoral terms from two to four years and allow mayors to serve up to eight consecutive years, instead of six.
🔒 3. Louisville voters weigh government transparency
Two charter amendments could give Louisville officials more leeway to meet behind closed doors while making it harder for residents to challenge city decisions.
- Question 2C would expand the circumstances when City Council and other public bodies could meet privately.
- Question 2E would raise the threshold for citizen initiatives from 5% to 7.5% of registered voters and 2.5% to 5% for referendums.
🔢 4. Longmont considers ranked-choice voting
Longmont voters will decide whether to ditch the traditional pick-one voting system for mayor and council.
- Question 3C would let voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than choosing just one.
- A companion measure, 3D, would change council election scheduled so all three at-large seats could be elected together if ranked-choice voting passes.
- The changes could take effect in 2029, depending on state approval.
🛢️ 5. Erie's oil and gas fight hits the ballot
Erie voters will fill three Town Council seats a few months after the town's controversial mineral rights agreement with SM Energy fell apart.
- Andrew Sawusch faces Bob Braudes in District 1.
- Delaney Dreckman faces Ben Hemphill in District 2.
- Amy Becker faces Brian O'Connor in District 3. O'Connor is the only incumbent running and supported the mineral rights deal.
- At an October forum, Sawusch argued the town should have secured benefits from drilling that could happen anyway.
- Hemphill opposed the deal and criticized the process.