Results as of 11:30 p.m.: Voters are saying no to a measure that would lower and cap the city's sales and use tax. Preliminary results show 62.17% of returned ballots are rejecting Initiative 304.
The measure would lower the city's sales and use tax from 4.81% to 4.5%, and cap the rate at the reduced figure. It directly affects the amount you pay for on stuff you buy anywhere in the city and online.
Garrett Flicker, chairman of the Denver Republican Party, collected signatures to get the measure on the ballot. Opponents of the measure had some pretty considerable backers, including Mayor Michael Hancock, a Democrat, and the Denver City Council, which took the formal step of issuing a proclamation to oppose the measure and suggest it would be bad for the city if it passed.
Elected officials argued the change would have drastic impacts on city services. They pointed out cutting the amount of money the city would get to from sales tax would affect the city's ability to repair and maintain stuff it owns, and services it provides to residents.
Flicker said the measure would help low-income residents, which he said end up being more disproportionately affected by higher sales taxes. He framed the measure as providing a break for the city's low-income households.
Election results are not final until they've been certified, days or sometimes weeks after Election Day. The Associated Press is not calling races in Colorado this year, and Denverite doesn't call races. We will report vote tallies as they are counted and reported by the Denver Elections, and we will report if a group supporting or opposing a ballot measure concedes defeat.
