8/4/2019 Open letter from City Council members

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September26,2011AnopenlettertothecitizensofDenver:Ascitycouncilmembers,weareveryconcernedaboutthenegativeimpactsofInitiative300ontheCityafterrecentanalysesfromthecityattorneysofficeandbudgetandmanagementofficefoundthemeasurewouldcostnearly$700,000ayearandforceDenvertocreateanewlevelofbureaucracyforenforcement.Basedontheseimpacts,weurgecitizenstovoteNoonInitiative300this

November.WhileInitiative300specificallyexemptsfederalandstateemployees,itdoesnotexempttemporaryandpart-timeDenveremployeesfromtheregulations.ThecityhasnoexistingsysteminplacetoimplementthisordinanceandanumberofthecitysexistingpaidsickleavepoliciesareinconflictwiththosesetforthintheInitiative300.ThebudgetanalysisofInitiative300outlinesanadditionalfinancialburdentothecityofalmost$700,000peryear.

Denverhasastructuralbudgetchallenge.Wehavefacedsignificantbudgetshortfallsyearafteryear,andcitycouncilhasbeenforcedtomakepainfulcutstocityservicesonavarietyofmatters.Theotherweek,MayorMichaelHancocksubmittedhisplantocloseanother$99.4millionbudgetshortfallfortheupcomingyear.TheMayorsproposedbudgetalreadyincludesfivefurloughdaysforallemployeesjusttobalanceourbudget.CreatingadditionalcostsfortheCityatthistimewillcomeattheexpenseofotherservices.WetakeprideinourroleasadvocatesforthepeopleofDenverandworkdailytoensure

Denverservesallofitsresidents.Initiative300hasanumberofflawsinthewayitwaswritten,andbasedonthelegalandbudgetaryanalysisbythecity,wecannotsupportit.Foralloftheabovereasons,weaskDenvervoterstojoinusinvotingNovoteonInitiative300whenmailballotsarrive.

8/4/2019 Open letter from City Council members

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Sincerely,PeggyLehmann,District4MaryBethSusman,District5

CharlieBrown,District6AlbusBrooks,District8JeanneRobb,District10ChrisHerndon,District11