Marijuana growth and sale in unincorporated Jeffco, along with a possible sales tax on it, have failed

Voters are decided against approving Ballot measure 1A and 1B, the sale and production of marijuana in unincorporated Jeffco and sales tax on it, according to unofficial election results as Nov. 11.

Unincorporated areas like Evergreen and Conifer were included, as well as south Jeffco, but large areas within and around Lakewood would have been included as well, such as almost the entire area surrounded by US 285 and C-470. 

Ballot measure 1B would have been a sales tax resolution of three to six percent on the marijuana products. The resolution estimated an added $600,000 in taxes would have gone to Jeffco within the first fiscal year with the three to six percent tax on marijuana sales continuing after.

Jeffco TABOR will not change

The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights for Jeffco will remain unchanged as Ballot measure 1C fails, according to unoffical election results as of Nov. 11. It would have limited only property taxes, removing the ceiling for other taxes, allowing the county to keep more revenue.

The resolution pointed to lower tax income to the county during the pandemic as a cause for reduced County operations and services, and this change to TABOR limits would have helped those budgets rebound.

TABOR works by putting a ceiling on county income, be it tax revenues, grants or money from the state. Passing that ceiling would require the county to send checks to residents for the surpassing amount — about $17.6 million in excess funds are being refunded for 2022.