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Proposed RTD Annexation Region

Election Process Summary

The Stakes

CRS: Petition or Resolution

CRS: Filing and Election

Proposed RTD Annexation Region

The proposed annexation shall be the area and voting precincts inside Park County (the county) and adjacent to Jefferson County encompassed by the boundary:

Beginning at the Northeast Corner the county boundary following the boundary West to the Northwest Corner of the boundary of the county,
then south along the west boundary of the county following the Continental Divide to the source of the North Fork of the South Platte River,
then Southeast along the North Fork of the South Platte River until reaching the confluence of Kenosha Creek,
then Southwest up Kenosha Gulch following the West edge of US 285 roadway up to Kenosha Pass,
then Southwest along the West edge of the US 285 roadway until intersecting the South boundary of Tract 7S, Range 75W,
then East along the South boundary of Tract 7S, Range 75W until intersecting Park County Road 56,
then Southeast along the South side of Park County Road 56 until intersecting Forest Road 127,
then Southeast along Forest Road 127 until intersecting Lost Creek,
then Southeast along Lost Creek until intersecting the East Boundary of the county,
then North along the East Boundary of the county to the Northeast Corner of the county boundary;
Fully including the county voting precincts numbered in the year 2008 as 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.

Election Process Summary

RTD annexation requires a vote of the people living in the region to be annexed and resolution to accept the proposed annexation by the Board of Directors of RTD. The resolution to accept the proposed annexation is done after the petition to annex is filed and at least 120 days before the election is held.

There are two ways to initiate this process:

The Board of County Commissioners can pass a resolution to annex part or all of the county.
Citizen residents of the proposed annexation can file a petition signed by 8% of eligible voters to the Board of Directors of RTD.

The Board of Directors of RTD then designates an election official. The election is conducted by the county clerk and recorder. RTD pays all the costs of conducting the election.

To read the applicable statutes in detail, click on the CRS topics on this page.

The Stakes This is less of an economic development issue than it is an economic sustainance issue. Much of the northern Park County economy depends on the paychecks of commuters who travel to the Denver metro area to earn a living. As we learned during the price gouging of fuel in 2008, commuting costs have the potential to wipe out disposable income if there is no alternative to driving. On a more positive note, enabling the people of northern Park County to join their Jefferson County neighbors in pushing for better public transportation is a powerful tool. This unity will eliminate parking fees at the local Park-n-Ride. We will have a better chance of success in getting a better Park-n-Ride built on property that RTD already owns in Pine Junction behind the lumber yard.
What is at Stake in the Election
YES to RTD Annexation Means	NO to RTD Annexation Means
An additional 1% sales tax in the annexed region contributes funding to public transportation. Pine Junction Park-n-Ride will probably be rebuilt on RTD-owned land behind the lumber yard in Pine Junction Parking fees will be eliminated. Traffic will be reduced. Commuters will have more money to support local businesses. Property values will remain stable or increase. US 285 Coalition and supporters can form a combined voting block with Jefferson County commuters to nominate or support RTD Board candidates who will act on behalf of our region. When all US 285 commuters are voting citizens in RTD, their coalition can apply more effective pressure on RTD to improve the timing and routes of public transportation serving the US 285 region.	There will be no additional sales tax. Pine Junction Park-n-Ride, which is now on CDOT land, will close permanently when US 285 is widened through Pine Junction. The nearest Park-n-Ride at Mountain View will levy parking fees on Park County commuters. Future price gouging of gasoline and diesel fuel will make commuting from Bailey very expensive. The expense of commuting will drive down the revenue of local businesses and property values.

Petition or Resolution to Annex to RTD

According to Colorado Revised Statutes 32-9-106.7 (1.5 b),

An election is requested for the purpose of including the area in the district by one of the following methods:
1. A petition signed by at least eight percent of the eligible electors in both incorporated and unincorporated portions of the area who reside within the geographic boundaries of the area is submitted to the board. The petition shall contain a legal description of the area to be included within the district.
2. A resolution by the board of county commissioners of the county to hold an election for the purpose of including the area, including municipalities and home rule municipalities, in the district is submitted to the board of directors of the district. The resolution shall contain a legal description of the area to be included within the district.
The board authorizes an election to be held at the same time for both the incorporated and unincorporated portions of the area seeking to be included in the district and a majority of those registered electors, as defined in section 1-1-104 (35), C.R.S., who reside within the geographic boundaries of the area and who vote in the election approve the inclusion of the area in the district.

Filing and Election

According to Colorado Revised Statutes 32-9-106.7 (2-3),

No election shall be held for inclusion of any area into the district pursuant to this section unless the board of directors of the district first resolves to accept the area if the election is successful. No petition for the inclusion of any area into the district shall be accepted except upon majority vote of the board of directors of the district.
1. A petition submitted to the voters pursuant to this section shall be filed with the board at least one hundred twenty days before the election at which the ballot question is submitted to a vote. Upon receiving such petition, the board shall designate an election official to conduct the election and provide a copy of the petition to such official. Upon declaring the petition sufficient, the board shall submit the petition along with the ballot question to the coordinated election official in accordance with section 1-7-116, C.R.S., and the coordinated election official shall conduct the election.
2. Any ballot for any election authorized by this section shall include a description of the specified area proposed to be included in the district and the current rate of sales tax levied by the regional transportation district.
3. The ballot shall contain the following question: "Shall the area described in the ballot be included in the regional transportation district?"
4. An election held pursuant to this section shall be conducted in accordance with articles 1 to 13 of title 1, C.R.S., and any other requirements of this section. The election shall be run by the office of the clerk and recorder of the county containing the area seeking inclusion in the district. The ballot question shall be submitted to a vote pursuant to this section only at a state general election or, if the board so determines, at a special election held on the first Tuesday in November of an odd-numbered year. The district shall pay for all costs associated with the election.
5. The board shall call the election authorized by this section by resolution. The resolution shall state:
  1. The object and purpose of the election;
  2. A description of the area proposed to be included in the district;
  3. The date of the election; and
  4. The name of the designated election official who is responsible for conducting the election pursuant to articles 1 to 13 of title 1, C.R.S.