Ballot Issue 6A will direct a portion of the established visitor lodging tax funds to affordable housing, childcare and an enhanced recreational experience in Gunnison County.

In 2008, local voters approved an initiative for a 4% lodging tax in Gunnison County to promote tourism, and funds have been consistently allocated to the Tourism and Prosperity Partnership (TAPP) for state and nation-wide marketing, economic development, and promotional activities.

The Gunnison Valley has benefitted from this successful tourism promotion program. The collected tax on lodging is projected to generate approximately $3 million in 2022, up from $2 million in 2020. However, while the program succeeded in bringing more visitors to the valley, it also brought impacts to the environment, economy, and affordable housing situation.

Colorado House Bill 22-1111 was passed this spring, which allows county lodging taxes to be used to address impacts caused by tourism. Gunnison County Commissioners have placed 6A on the ballot to allow up to 40% of revenue generated from the existing 4% lodging tax be used to:

• support housing or childcare for the tourism-related workforce and other workers in the community, including seasonal workers
• support recreation infrastructure  in order to facilitate and enhance visitor experiences

The remaining 60% will continue to be spent to support tourism, as well as business recruitment and development.

For more information, read the recent Crested Butte News article or view a sample ballot from the County Elections Office.

This initiative seeks to create a State Affordable Housing Fund by allocating 0.1% of state income tax revenue to affordable housing projects and programs. The revenue would be split with 40% going to the Affordable Housing Support Fund and 60% to the Affordable Housing Financing Fund.

This Proposition defines affordable housing as rental housing that is “affordable to a household with an annual income of at or below 60% of the area median income, and that costs the household less than 30% of its monthly income,” and “for-sale housing that could be purchased by a household with an annual income of at or below 100% of the area median income, for which the mortgage payment costs the household less than 30% of its monthly income.”^[1]

Funds would be used for ^[1] :

• providing grants to local governments and loans to nonprofit organizations to acquire and maintain land for the development of affordable housing;
• creating an affordable housing equity program to make equity investments in multi-family rental units to ensure that rent is no more than 30% of a household’s income;
• creating a concessionary debt program to provide debt financing for low- and middle-income multi-family rental developments and existing affordable housing projects;
• creating an affordable home ownership program providing down-payment assistance for homebuyers meeting certain income requirements;
• creating a grant program for local governments to increase capacity to process land use, permitting, and zoning applications for housing projects; and
• creating a program to provide rental assistance, housing vouchers, and other case management for persons experiencing homelessness.

For specific ballot language and arguments for and against Proposition 123 from the Colorado Blue Book, click here to view pages 30-33.