TOPS program extension – Ballot Issue 1 April 2023
Ballots close April 4, 2023 – VOTE YES ON TOPS NOW!
We’ve received questions about a confusing “No on TOPS” campaign – please check out our response here.
For more background about TOPS please check here or email us, TOPS@medwheel.org
Below is a list of individuals and organizations that are supporting the TOPS extension.
We, the undersigned, support the TOPS extension April 2023 ballot issue 1:
WITHOUT IMPOSING ANY NEW TAX OR INCREASING THE RATE OF ANY EXISTING TAX, SHALL THE EXISTING 0.1% (ONE TENTH OF A CENT) CITY SALES AND USE TAX FOR TRAILS, OPEN SPACE AND PARKS (TOPS) BE EXTENDED FROM ITS CURRENT EXPIRATION OF DECEMBER 31, 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2045, WITH THE SAME USES FOR OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION AND STEWARDSHIP, AND TRAILS AND PARKS ACQUISITION AND MAINTENANCE, THE ABOVE CONSTITUTING NO CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM EXCEPT ALLOWING FUNDS DEDICATED TO MAINTENANCE OF TRAILS AND OPEN SPACES TO BE USED REGARDLESS OF HOW THE TRAIL OR OPEN SPACE WAS ACQUIRED, AND IN THE OPEN SPACE CATEGORY A MINIMUM OF SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT (75%) OF FUNDS BE SPENT ON ACQUISITION OF OPEN SPACE, AS A CONTINUATION OF A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND EXCEPTION TO ANY CONSTITUTIONAL, STATUTORY, AND CHARTER REVENUE AND SPENDING LIMITATIONS THAT MAY OTHERWISE APPLY?
_ YES _ NO
Endorsed by:
Parks Director Britt Haley, TOPS Working Committee, Parks and Rec Cultural Services Advisory Board (Jan 4th meetings), COS city council (Jan 10th meeting). Mayor John Suthers (Dec 12 2022 City Council Work Session)
Current and former COS Parks Board, TOPS Working Committee, elected officials
Lee Milner, Kent Obee, Richard Skorman, Steve Harris, Linda Hodges, Bill Koerner, Scot Hume, Joe Lavorini, Brad Frieden, Daniel Bowen, Jason Alwine, Ann Oatman-Gardner, Judith Rice-Jones, Greg Thornton, Lily Weissgold, Andrea Perry, Tom Strand, Liz Klein, Bob Falcone, Longinos Gonzalez, Jr., Marc Snyder, Pete Lee, Patti Freudenburg, Michael Phan, Sallie Clark, Jeff Davis, Wayne Williams, Yemi Mobolade,
Community members
Cory Sutela, Ruth Obee, Marcy Morrison, Toby Gannett, Bruce Hamilton, Jim Lockhart, Teddy Weiss, Steve Brunner, Glenn Pressman, Andrew Vanderweg, John Weiss, Brian Mullin, Carlos Perez, Bill Haaker, Rich Mock, Steve Bremner, Jason Mezey, Alan Higbie, Susan Jarvis-Webster, David Mink, Tony White, John Spengler, John Crandall, Warren Dean, Jim Yount,
Organizations and Businesses
Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates, League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region, Aiken Audubon, Friends of Garden of the Gods, Friends of Red Rock Canyon, Friends of Monument Preserve, Black Forest Trails Association, Friends of the Peak, Friends of Stratton Open Space, Guardians of Palmer Park, Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance, KOM Sports Marketing, Routes Outfitter, Twisted Spoke CBD, Pure Kombucha, Trails End Taproom, Criterium Bike Shop, Old Town Bike Shop, SRM-USA Service Center, Bike Colorado Springs, Palmer Land Conservancy, Pikes Peak Sierra Club, Trails and Open Space Coalition, Friends of Ute Valley Park, CS Downtown Partnership, SRAM,
To add your name or that of an organization or business to this statement of support, please email TOPS@medwheel.org.
