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Denver Mayor Michael Hancock says referred bond issues relate to quality of life

Posted at 4:53 PM, Oct 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-12 20:27:28-04

DENVER – You’ve likely seen them on TV: Advertisements featuring Denver’s mayor promoting the passage of Referred Questions 2-A through 2-G.

The seven bond issues, which total $937 million, would fund a total of 460 projects. You, the voter, get to pick and choose which groups you like.

Mayor Michael Hancock said the bond issues relate to quality of life in a fast-growing city.

“Whether it’s Denver Health, our roads, our bridges, Denver police and fire stations, our Center for Performing Arts, parks and rec centers or facilities and amenities,” he said, “these are things we have invested heavily in, and we need to make sure that we are improving them.”

Especially with the city’s burgeoning population.

“We should be over 700,000 right now,” the Mayor said. “The city has been growing exponentially over the last decade.”

Hancock said that growth is putting a strain on current infrastructure. He used Denver Health as an example.

The CEO, Robin Wittenstein, said they’re struggling to meet demand in certain areas.

“Over the next two years, most of our specialty clinics will reach full physical capacity, and we’ll have to turn more patients away, and that’s not the right thing to do,” she said.

Referred Question 2-C would provide $75 million for a new outpatient medical center on the Denver Health campus.

It would allow for 100,000 more patient visits.

“I’m one of their patients,” Hancock said. “I believe in the quality of services that you receive here and it’s important that we continue to invest in them.”

Referred Questions

  • 2-A – Transportation and Mobility - $431,042,500
  • 2-B – Cultural Facilities - $116,907,000
  • 2-C – Denver Health -  $75,000,000
  • 2-D – Denver Public Safety - $77,011,000
  • 2-E – Denver Public Library - $69,343,000
  • 2-F – Parks and Rec - $151,615,000
  • 2-G – Public Facilities - $16,500,000

Some people believe the bond projects are too large and should be scaled back.

Proponents note that the bonds can be paid back without raising the tax rate, because property values have increased.