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Lafayette voters approve public safety, mental health ballot measures

Daily Camera - 11/3/2021

Nov. 3—A wide margin of Lafayette voters approved five ballot measures to increase taxes for public safety and mental health funding as well as change language in the city charter, according to unofficial results posted by the Boulder County Elections Division late Tuesday.

Measure 2B, Funding Public Safety Services, raises sales and use tax by 0.27%, or 2.7 cents on a $10 purchase, to fund public safety services, including hiring mental health co-responders, hiring additional firefighters and police officers, improving emergency management and recovery resources and more.

Unofficial results posted by Boulder Countyat 8:45 p.m. Tuesday showed the measure passing, with 66% voting in favor and 34% voting against.

The public safety measure would raise nearly $2 million in the first fiscal year, according to city estimates.

Measure 2C, Funding Mental Health and Human Services, increases sales and use tax by 0.10%, or 1 cent on a $10 purchase, to fund services including mental health, medical care, support for domestic violence victims and help for people in crisis.

Unofficial results show the measure passing, with 69% voting in favor and 31% voting against.

The measure would raise $750,000 in the first fiscal year, according to city estimates.

Voters prioritized public safety and mental health with their votes Tuesday, said city spokesperson Debbie Wilmot.

"Lafayette residents should feel proud and safe with the passing of these ballot initiatives. It shows we're a caring and inclusive community, and I think that light is really shining bright today," she said.

Voters also approved three ballot measures that change language in the city's charter to remove gendered and "archaic" terms and align rules with state law.

Measure 2D, Gender Neutral Charter Language, amends the Lafayette Home Rule Charter to change gendered references, including he, she, his and her, to gender-neutral language.

Unofficial results show the measure passing, with 63% voting in favor and 37% voting against.

Measure 2E, Removal And Replacement of Archaic Charter Language, amends the Home Rule Charter to remove terms like "citizen" where U.S. citizenship is not legally required and to replace the term "master plan" with "comprehensive plan."

Unofficial results show the measure passing, with 70% voting in favor and 30% voting against.

And Measure 2F, Residency Qualification for City Councilors, changes the Home Rule Charter to align City Council residency requirements with that of state law, which is one year for municipal elected office.

Unofficial results show the measure passing, with 69% voting in favor and 31% voting against.

Officials with Boulder County Republicans, which recommended voting against all five measures in its election guide, could not be reached for comment on the election results late Tuesday.

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