Agenda Date: 10/06/2026
Subject:
Title
Overview of additional ballot questions
Body
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Reid Betzing, City Attorney |
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Presentations: |
Reid Betzing, City Attorney |
PURPOSE:
Staff have prepared information for City Council on the 16 ballot questions Littleton voters will see in the November 3, 2026, general election: 7 statewide constitutional amendments, 7 statewide propositions, and 2 local ballot issues (4A and 7A). This item is informational.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
High-Quality Governance
DISCUSSION:
The November 3, 2026, ballot includes 7 statewide amendments, which would change the Colorado Constitution, and 7 statewide propositions, which would change Colorado state law. Littleton voters will also see 2 local ballot issues: 4A for Littleton Public Schools and 7A for the Front Range Passenger Rail District.
Statewide Amendments (change the Colorado Constitution)
|
Measure |
Subject areas |
What it would do |
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Amendment 81 |
Immigration; law enforcement |
Require law enforcement to notify the U.S. Department of Homeland Security when a person is charged with a crime of violence or has a prior felony conviction and the person's immigration status cannot be determined |
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Amendment 82 |
Constitutional rights; fossil fuels; business |
Create a constitutional right for consumers to buy natural gas for cooking or heating in homes and businesses, and for distributors and utilities to sell it for those purposes |
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Amendment 83 |
Right to hunt and fish |
Establish a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and take fish and wildlife through traditional methods, subject to regulation by the legislature and executive agencies |
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Amendment 84 |
Absentee voting; voter ID |
Require voters casting ballots by mail to include their signature and some form of real ID on their ballot |
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Amendment 85 |
Initiative process; ballot measures |
Require ballot questions to be written in plain language at no more than an eighth-grade reading level |
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Amendment 86 |
Redistricting |
Require congressional maps drawn in 2028 to be approved by both a nonpolitical commission and the Colorado Supreme Court |
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Amendment 87 |
Public assistance; public education funding; income taxes; early childhood education |
Establish a graduated state income tax |
Statewide Propositions (change Colorado state law)
|
Measure |
Subject areas |
What it would do |
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Proposition 132 |
Criminal sentencing; drug crime |
Increase penalties for fentanyl-related felonies, require treatment for certain drug offenses, and limit sentencing exceptions in fentanyl-related crimes that cause another person's death |
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Proposition 133 |
Criminal sentencing |
Require life in prison without parole or release for persons convicted of trafficking a child for sexual servitude |
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Proposition 134 |
Sex and gender; LGBTQ; higher and public education governance; athletics |
Require K-12 and collegiate school sports teams to be separated by biological sex unless the team is co-ed |
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Proposition 135 |
Sex and gender; LGBTQ; healthcare governance |
Prohibit healthcare professionals from providing surgeries to persons under 18 for the purpose of "treatment in response to a minor's perception of sex or gender" |
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Proposition 136 |
Business taxes; income taxes |
Cap individual and corporate income tax rates at 4.4% |
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Proposition 137 |
Wildfire; sales taxes; restricted-use funds; parks and conservation |
Allow the state to retain and spend sales tax revenue from sporting goods and equipment for water, land, forest, wildfire prevention, and outdoor recreation |
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Proposition NN |
Public education funding; revenue and spending limits |
Increase the TABOR cap and use surplus funds for K-12 education expenses |
Local Ballot Issue 4A: Littleton Public Schools
Ballot Issue 4A asks voters whether Arapahoe County School District No. 6 (Littleton Public Schools) taxes should be increased $10,289,724 in 2026, for collection in 2027, and by other amounts in later years up to the limit set for the district by C.R.S. § 22-54-108. The funds would go to general fund purposes such as:
• Teachers: attract and retain highly qualified teachers to continue providing exceptional learning opportunities and care for every student
• Safe schools: maintain safe, secure schools where all students can thrive
• Academics and careers: sustain academic excellence and expand career readiness through innovative programming that prepares all students for success after graduation
Local Ballot Issue 7A: Front Range Passenger Rail District
Ballot Issue 7A would fund construction, operation, and maintenance of Colorado Connector (CoCo) passenger rail service on the Front Range. It would:
• Establish a 0.333% sales and use tax (one third of a penny on a $1 purchase), raising $295 million per year plus whatever amounts are raised annually after
• Authorize $580 million in new district debt to construct the service, with a maximum repayment cost of $785 million
The service would connect Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Sterling Ranch, Littleton, Denver, Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville, Boulder, Longmont, Loveland, and Fort Collins. The stated purposes are to remove vehicles from highways and increase travel capacity; connect travelers to employment centers, colleges, sports arenas, and entertainment hubs; and invest in station area improvements and local connections to rail stations. Exemptions under Colorado law would apply, including gasoline, food, residential electricity and gas, prescription drugs, and medical supplies.
The full official ballot language for Ballot Issues 4A and 7A is included as Attachment A.
BACKGROUND:
The November 3, 2026, general election is a coordinated election. Statewide amendments amend the Colorado Constitution, while statewide propositions amend Colorado statutes. Ballot Issue 4A was referred by the Littleton Public Schools Board of Education, and Ballot Issue 7A was referred by the Front Range Passenger Rail District; neither was referred by the City.
Prior Actions or Discussions
City Council was provided a brief overview on September 22, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
This item is informational and requires no City funding. None of the ballot questions was referred by the City, and the City would not collect or administer revenue from Ballot Issues 4A or 7A.
• Ballot Issue 4A is a Littleton Public Schools property tax. It would increase taxes $10,289,724 in 2026, for collection in 2027, for property owners within the district, including Littleton residents and businesses.
• Ballot Issue 7A would add a 0.333% sales and use tax within the Front Range Passenger Rail District, raising $295 million per year district-wide, and would authorize $580 million in district debt with a maximum repayment cost of $785 million.
• Statewide measures with tax or revenue effects include Amendment 87 (graduated income tax), Proposition 136 (4.4% income tax cap), Proposition 137 (retention of sporting goods sales tax revenue), and Proposition NN (TABOR cap). [Staff to confirm whether any would directly affect City revenues.]
Under the Colorado Fair Campaign Practices Act (C.R.S. § 1-45-117), the City may adopt a resolution taking a position on a ballot issue but may not otherwise spend public funds to urge voters to support or oppose it.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff takes no position on additional ballot measures.
ALTERNATIVES:
Council can provide direction to support or oppose any additional ballot measures, of which resolutions of support or opposition would be presented to City Council on October 20, 2026.
Alternatively, Council can choose to not take positions on additional ballot measures.