On Tuesday, Sept. 7, the Board of Mesa County Commissioners adopted a resolution amending Resolution No. 2021-49 Referring to the Registered Electors of Mesa County, Colorado, a ballot question regarding whether the County may impose an excise tax on the first sale or transfer of unprocessed retail marijuana by a retail marijuana cultivation facility located within the unincorporated areas of Mesa County.
To view the approval and discussion of the resolution, click here.
Ballot Question
The following ballot question shall be submitted to a vote of the registered electorate of Mesa County at a general election to be held on November 2, 2021:
SHALL MESA COUNTY TAXES BE INCREASED BY $752,000 ANNUALLY IN THE FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS AS ARE RAISED THEREAFTER THROUGH THE IMPOSITION OF AN EXCISE TAX OF 5% ON THE FIRST SALE OR TRANSFER OF UNPROCESSED RETAIL MARIJUANA BY A RETAIL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY LOCATED WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF MESA COUNTY IF BALLOT QUESTION 1C PASSES IN THIS ELECTION, WITH THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVING AUTHORITY TO INCREASE OR DECREASE THE RATE BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2023 SO LONG AS THE MAXIMUM RATE IN NO CASE EXCEEDS FIVE PERCENT (5%) AND WITH SUCH REVENUE TO BE DEPOSITED INTO THE GENERAL FUND AND BE USED AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF MESA, STATE OF COLORADO, TO FUND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, AND/OR RELATED GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES AS A RESULT OF THE MARIJUANA CULTIVATION, MANUFACTURING, OR TESTING; AND SHALL SUCH EARNINGS THEREON BE COLLECTED, RETAINED, AND EXPENDED AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE WITHOUT LIMITATION OR CONDITION UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION, OR ANY OTHER LAW?_____YES _____ NO