At the Aug. 15 City Council meeting, Brighton City Council voted 7-1 to approve a resolution placing a public safety sales and use tax question on the ballot for the Nov. 7, 2023 Election. 

The ballot measure will ask voters to approve a 0.15 percent sales and use tax increase, which would cost consumers 15 cents on a $100 purchase. This is anticipated to generate approximately $2 million annually to provide public safety resources directly to the community.

The increased tax revenues dedicated to public safety would allow the City to add up to 12 new positions in the Police Department, and examples of service enhancements that could be provided may include any of the following:

• Additional task force detectives to address specific crimes such as motor vehicle theft, sexual assault, and other felonies

• Additional patrol, traffic, and investigations officers

• The creation of an Impact Team that would be able to quickly respond to crime issues impacting the community.

The public safety sales and use tax question will read as follows on the Nov. 7 ballot:

SHALL THE CITY OF BRIGHTON TAXES BE INCREASED NOT MORE THAN $2.75 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY IN THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR OF COLLECTIONS (2024) AND BY WHATEVER AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY AN ADDITIONAL SALES AND USE TAX OF 0.15 PERCENT (OR AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 15 CENTS PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS SPENT), COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 2024 TO FUND PUBLIC SAFETY, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS AND EQUIPMENT, WITH ALL TAX REVENUES AND INVESTMENT EARNINGS THEREON TO BE COLLECTED, RETAINED, AND SPENT AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION?