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Final two days of balloting in Glenwood Springs election

Catch up on all of the Post Independent's election coverage

Glenwood Springs voters who have not already completed and returned their ballots for the city election have until 7 p.m. Tuesday to do so.

As of Friday midday, the Glenwood City Clerk’s Office had received 1,331 of the approximately 5,229 ballots that were sent via mail to all registered city electors in mid-March.

That left 3,898 ballots still to be cast, or potentially 75 percent of the vote, to determine the fate of a proposed new 3/4-cent city sales tax to repair and rebuild the city’s streets and sub-surface utilities, as well as decide two contested Glenwood Springs City Council seats.



Running for election for one of council’s two at-large seats are incumbent Councilor Jim Ingraham, who was appointed to the seat last year, and challengers Tony Hershey and Erika Gibson. Voters citywide will decide the at-large seat.

Seeking election to the open Ward 3 seat are Charlie Willman, Jennifer Vanian and Ksana Oglesby. Only voters residing within Ward 3, defined as the east side of Grand Avenue from 14th to Seventh Street, and the area north of the Colorado River and I-70, and east of Devereux Road and Traver Trail.



The tax question, Ballot Issue A, calls for a new 3/4-cent sales tax to address some $56 million in identified street repairs and reconstruction over the next 10 to 12 years. The tax would be in addition to an existing 1/2-cent city sales tax that goes for street maintenance.

A separate Ballot Issue B seeks authority to bond for up to $16 million using the new tax proceeds, as a means of fast-tracking the street projects.

Supporters say the new tax is the best way to address the city’s street and utility needs in the shortest amount of time possible, including replacing several “failing” streets, according to a recent streets assessment.

Opponents have argued that the new tax would bring Glenwood Springs’ sales tax rate to one of the highest in the Roaring Fork Valley, at 9.35% (10.85% at Glenwood Meadows where a special public improvements fee is also assessed).

Some City Council candidates have also criticized the tax proposal, saying the current council has not adequately budgeted in past years for rebuilding the city’s streets.

It’s too late to return ballots for the Tuesday election by mail. Completed ballots, including the signed affidavit on the back of the envelope, must be returned in person to City Hall by 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Two uncontested City Council races are also on the ballot. Incumbent Councilor Steve Davis is seeking reelection to the Ward 1 seat, and Paula Stepp is unopposed for the Ward 4 seat.

jstroud@postindependent.com

PI ELECTION COVERAGE

Catch up on all of the Post Independent’s city of Glenwood Springs pre-election coverage and read all of the letters to the editor on election-related topics here, including:

City Council candidate op-eds

Erika Gibson

Tony Hershey

Jim Ingraham

Ksana Oglesby

Jennifer Vanian

Charlie Willman

Video interviews with the candidates.

Candidate Q&As

Vision for confluence area

Sixth Street bridge landing

Workforce housing

Streets tax

Vacation rentals

Candidate forums

Issues & Answers Forum: At large race; Ward 3 race; Streets tax

North Glenwood Caucus forum

Imagine Glenwood forum 

Candidates address homeless concerns, fate of city airport

Street tax issue coverage

Street tax question approved for April ballot

Glenwood’s $56M streets question is city’s biggest dollar ask ever

Council candidates in support of street tax say no other options

Council candidates opposing tax question city spending


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