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| Lodging Tax Likely To Be On Ballot Again Loveland's City Council decided to try and place a lodging tax on the ballot for Loveland's November 2009 municipal elections. |
Loveland - June 23, 2009
All of Loveland’s City Council agrees the city should have a lodging tax (a tax paid by hotel visitors added to
the price of their room) but are having a difficult time finding a reason why.
Under the restrictions in TABOR (Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights) local governments cannot raise taxes without
first seeking approval from voters. Twice Loveland has placed the question of a lodging tax on the ballot and
twice a majority of Loveland voters defeated their proposal. Last year the head of Loveland's Chamber of
Commerce, Gaye Stockman, attempted to form a committe to push the tax but it fell apart when she moved
out of the area soon after. see story
Some on the council are reluctant to place a lodging tax proposal on the ballot in November of 2009 unless
the community clearly supports the measure. Councilman Walt Skowron, who has previously supported the
tax, informed his colleagues they need to consult the public through community forums to see what the voters
prefer before preparing the ballot language.
Carol Johnson, pitching for the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, called for the tax to fund their visitor’s and
convention bureau while Councilman Daryl Klassen made an emphatic appeal for the council to dedicate the
revenue from the tax towards a city operated convention center. His colleagues who spoke with hotel
operators disagreed and said the biggest hotel operator would like to see the tax go toward attracting
conventions and visitors to Loveland. Mayor Pielin spoke fondly of the opportunity to see Loveland
advertised in important trade journals and vacation magazines.
Councilman Cecil Gutierrez expressed concern that voters were reluctant to support the lodging tax in the past
because they didn’t see a benefit to the residents of the community. Gutierrez suggested the council consider
giving the voters a “why” to garner support for the measure. Councilman Kent Solt agreed along with a
number of other councilors who echoed his comments.
Mayor Pielin sarchastically said, “We could have 15 forums or whatever…” and we wouldn’t know what the
public wants. Pielin implied public input is of little value and would not add anything new to the discussion.
He also cautioned his colleagues that they have only until August 1, to agree on the “why” question as the
language must be prepared by that date.
City Attorney John Duval told the council the language was easy for the ballot measure as he already has it
finished. A number of councilors indicated their discomfort in putting the item on the ballot again without a
winning strategy to sell the new tax to Loveland.
When Pielin said everyone supported placing it on November’s ballot Councilman Clark objected because he
thought the timing might be too short.
The council agreed to appoint a lead member who will consult with their colleagues and the community to
prepare language for the ballot measure. The proceeds from a proposed lodging tax are likely to include
funding projects that the council believes the communicty will want.
The council will need to settle on the language for the ballot measure by their August 1, 2009 council
meeting. That will provide adequate time to bring it back again in late August for a second reading and final
approval by council. Once the measure is referred to the election ballot the City of Loveland it cannot lobby
for the measure or get involved in the campaign.
Mayor Pielin has long sought a community group to champion passing a lodging tax in Loveland. All
previous attempts have failed.
All of Loveland’s City Council agrees the city should have a lodging tax (a tax paid by hotel visitors added to
the price of their room) but are having a difficult time finding a reason why.
Under the restrictions in TABOR (Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights) local governments cannot raise taxes without
first seeking approval from voters. Twice Loveland has placed the question of a lodging tax on the ballot and
twice a majority of Loveland voters defeated their proposal. Last year the head of Loveland's Chamber of
Commerce, Gaye Stockman, attempted to form a committe to push the tax but it fell apart when she moved
out of the area soon after. see story
Some on the council are reluctant to place a lodging tax proposal on the ballot in November of 2009 unless
the community clearly supports the measure. Councilman Walt Skowron, who has previously supported the
tax, informed his colleagues they need to consult the public through community forums to see what the voters
prefer before preparing the ballot language.
Carol Johnson, pitching for the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, called for the tax to fund their visitor’s and
convention bureau while Councilman Daryl Klassen made an emphatic appeal for the council to dedicate the
revenue from the tax towards a city operated convention center. His colleagues who spoke with hotel
operators disagreed and said the biggest hotel operator would like to see the tax go toward attracting
conventions and visitors to Loveland. Mayor Pielin spoke fondly of the opportunity to see Loveland
advertised in important trade journals and vacation magazines.
Councilman Cecil Gutierrez expressed concern that voters were reluctant to support the lodging tax in the past
because they didn’t see a benefit to the residents of the community. Gutierrez suggested the council consider
giving the voters a “why” to garner support for the measure. Councilman Kent Solt agreed along with a
number of other councilors who echoed his comments.
Mayor Pielin sarchastically said, “We could have 15 forums or whatever…” and we wouldn’t know what the
public wants. Pielin implied public input is of little value and would not add anything new to the discussion.
He also cautioned his colleagues that they have only until August 1, to agree on the “why” question as the
language must be prepared by that date.
City Attorney John Duval told the council the language was easy for the ballot measure as he already has it
finished. A number of councilors indicated their discomfort in putting the item on the ballot again without a
winning strategy to sell the new tax to Loveland.
When Pielin said everyone supported placing it on November’s ballot Councilman Clark objected because he
thought the timing might be too short.
The council agreed to appoint a lead member who will consult with their colleagues and the community to
prepare language for the ballot measure. The proceeds from a proposed lodging tax are likely to include
funding projects that the council believes the communicty will want.
The council will need to settle on the language for the ballot measure by their August 1, 2009 council
meeting. That will provide adequate time to bring it back again in late August for a second reading and final
approval by council. Once the measure is referred to the election ballot the City of Loveland it cannot lobby
for the measure or get involved in the campaign.
Mayor Pielin has long sought a community group to champion passing a lodging tax in Loveland. All
previous attempts have failed.