Bruce ballot denied; court is next step

Douglas Bruce will be back in 4th Judicial District Court after city officials again denied his ballot proposal.

The Colorado Springs City Council voted 5-3 Tuesday to deny setting a ballot title on a measure to make the city’s enterprises subject to voluntary payments only, among other things.

Those voting in the minority were Randy Purvis, Darryl Glenn and Tom Gallagher, all of whom were willing to set a title and allow voters a shot at the measure if Bruce collected ample signatures to get it on the November 2008 ballot.

Bruce’s measure deals with enterprises in general but targets the city’s Stormwater Enterprise, formed in 2005. The city began billing property owners for fees this year and will collect about $15 million in fees annually for drainage work.

The city’s other enterprises include golf courses, utilities, a hospital, an airport and cemeteries, and they operate on fees for service.

The case began when the city’s title board refused to set a title. Bruce sued. A judge sent him back to the city for a rehearing. Now Bruce, the author of state and local tax limitation laws and an El Paso County commissioner, said he will return to court.