Lakewood Charter Change: Issue 72

approved a proposal in July that includes eight changes to the city's Second Amended Charter. 

Those are now headed for the Nov. 8 ballot, where voters will decide whether they approve.

Issue 72 is a proposed amendment to Art. XVI, Sec. 31 of the city’s charter that would include the sewer system in a list of infrastructure improvements that could be paid for with a levy. 

The question on the ballot:

Shall Article XVI, Section 31, Levy for Reconstruction, Expansion, Operation and Maintenance of a Sewage Disposal Plant, of the Second Amended Charter of the City of Lakewood be amended to include the city sewer system among those municipal improvements that may be supported by the millage identified in that Section?

The charter currently reads:

Without prejudice to the use of other funds from taxes or other sources available for such purpose, Council may levy a tax upon all real and personal property listed for taxation upon the tax list and duplicate at a rate not to exceed two (2) mills outside of the levies provided in Sections 29 and 30 of this Article to provide a fund for the purpose of financing the reconstruction, expansion, operation and maintenance of a sewage disposal plant, and the capital needs of street infrastructure, municipal buildings, parks and recreation facilities.

The charter would read:

Without prejudice to the use of other funds from taxes or other sources available for such purpose, Council may levy a tax upon all real and personal property listed for taxation upon the tax list and duplicate at a rate not to exceed two (2) mills outside of the levies provided in Sections 29 and 30 of this Article to provide a fund for the purpose of financing the reconstruction, expansion, operation and maintenance of a sewage disposal plant and sewer system, and the capital needs of street infrastructure, municipal buildings, parks and recreation facilities.

Comment:

“If adopted, this change would permit the municipal improvements receiving a dedicated millage under Article XVI, Section 31 to include upgrades to the city sewer system, which has seen increased federal and state regulation of late,” said Lakewood Law Director Kevin Butler. “Currently only the following projects receive capital improvement dollars from this revenue stream: the wastewater treatment plant, streets, city buildings and parks.”

Mayor Michael Summers said the change would give the city “a little more flexibility to fix whatever’s underneath a street.”

The measure could come in handy, he said, as the city eyes fixes to the storm water system to meet EPA standard.

“I expect at some point we may be obligated to go to our voters with a plan,” he said.