The two ballot questions posed to Keystone voters have passed, according to preliminary results published as of 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Town of Keystone Ballot Issue 2A, which proposed a 2% lodging tax on bookings that are fewer than 30 days long, received 419 votes in favor, or 70.90%, as of 8 p.m. There were 172 votes against the measure, or 29.10%.

Keystone Ballot Issue 2B was created to remove the government revenue and spending limits put in place by the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, or TABOR. The ballot issue was passing with 462 votes cast in favor, or 78.84%, while 124 votes were cast opposing it, or 21.16%, as of 8 p.m.

Summit Daily called both of the races at 8 p.m. due to the decisive margins.

“I want to thank the residents of Keystone for voting for these issues and enabling us to be able get this good start on fixing our Keystone problems,” Mayor Ken Riley said. “I can’t say how much I appreciate the community’s support.”

Ballot Issue 2A

Keystone Ballot Issue 2A asked voters if they support implementing a 2% lodging tax for any bookings that are fewer than 30 consecutive days. 

Leading into the election, Riley said the new lodging tax would replace the one that was implemented by the Summit County government before Keystone was recognized as a town. Riley said the money gathered from the lodging tax will only be used for infrastructure and public safety within Keystone. 

Riley and the Keystone Town Council are estimating that the lodging tax will bring in between $1.6 million to $2 million annually, which would help Keystone’s necessary infrastructure projects.

Ballot Issue 2B

Keystone Ballot Initiative 2B asked voters to remove Keystone’s spending limit that was put in place under TABOR.

Established in 1992, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights is a voter-approved amendment to the state Constitution that placed a cap on how much revenue Colorado governments can take in. Since the amendment, many local municipalities and counties have “de-Bruced” — a term that nods to the amendment’s author, Douglas Bruce — by asking voters to opt-out of the revenue cap. 

Prior to the 2024 general election, 51 of Colorado’s 64 counties and 230 of its 274 municipalities had successfully de-Bruced. Although revenue caps are being removed at the local level, a cap still remains in place on state government revenue.

Keystone council members put the measure on the 2024 ballot after bringing up several concerns in a July council meeting. One of the principal concerns Keystone council members highlighted was that a cap could severely limit funding for essential projects and programs.