Background: The TABOR constitutional amendment passed in 1992 limits increases in government spending. For Jamestown and other municipal governments, the limit is inflation plus change in actual real property values. Voter approval is required in advance for any increase in tax or debt or policy change which results in revenue gain.

Major Provisions: Both these measures would allow the town to "accept, receive, retain and spend" revenue from particular sources and for specified purposes. Issue 2A concerns itself with a grant from the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, which during 1995 and 1996 will amount to not more than $10,000. The grant money would be spent on construction of recreational facilities in the town park. Issue 2B has a more general scope. It concerns revenues from Colorado and other non-federal grants, in any amount, in 1996 or later years. The town would be able to spend such money on capital projects or basic services or other purposes. Both ballot measures are clear that the amount of these grants received and spent by Jamestown need not be within the limits of the TABOR amendment or any other law. Furthermore, these grants are not to be considered when figuring whether other revenues and spending by Jamestown are within the TABOR or other limits.

Arguments FOR the measure:

-- Special grants can contribute to capital projects or extra services for residents of Jamestown. Townspeople would obtain benefits without the money coming directly from their pockets.

-- In a small town, a grant award can mean a large jump in the total revenues and spending. Town officials should be able to make decisions for their community without being held to arbitrary and inflexible limits in the state constitution.

Arguments AGAINST the measure:

-- Issue 2B is too vague. Voters are not given enough information about the grants the town would accept or told how the town intends to spend the grants it might get.

-- If residents become accustomed to the facilities and services provided through grant money, they will expect and demand the same level of benefits after the grants expire. The town should not initiate programs that local taxpayers cannot afford to maintain.