Greeley voters deny tax hike for Colorado Eagles arena
Ballot Measure 2F failed by a wide margin, leaving the team and city leaders to determine next steps for the project site.
By Jillian Foster ·
Greeley voters rejected a sales tax increase on Tuesday that would have helped fund a new home for the Colorado Eagles hockey team.
Ballot Measure 2F failed with 19,159 votes against and 8,229 in favor. The proposal would have added a 0.6 percent sales and use tax, adding 60 cents to every $100 in eligible purchases. Grocery food purchases would have been exempt from the charge. The revenue was intended to support several city capital improvement projects, including the construction of a new arena.
Rhonda Solis, a Greeley resident who voted against the measure, said the outcome was expected. "People's pockets are just kind of stretched right now," Solis said. "The fact that they thought that they could bring, you know, this tax and it be for 40 years was just not going to be popular at all."
Martin Lind, owner of the Colorado Eagles, said the election results provided clear direction for the organization. "To be honest with you, clear direction is clear direction," Lind said. The team does not plan to ask voters to reconsider the proposal immediately. Instead, Lind said the organization will wait to see how city leaders respond.
Lind stated that approximately $80 million has already been invested in the proposed arena site. This includes moving water lines and other site preparation work. The city said it respects the voters' decision and will review the results as part of its financial planning. Mayor Dall Hall noted that the decision was difficult for residents in the current economic environment. "Our focus now is to make responsible choices, meet the City's commitments and be clear with the community about the tradeoffs ahead," Hall said.
The city will continue using Quality of Life and Food Tax revenues to pay for the Civic Campus and West Greeley Catalyst projects. This allocation leaves less funding available for other capital improvements, such as parks, recreation facilities, and maintenance. Lind expressed disappointment about the uncertainty surrounding the arena, particularly regarding its impact on youth hockey programs in the community.
Solis said she wants Greeley to move forward but believes the city must address its existing debt. She suggested residents may need to consider another tax proposal next year, one focused specifically on paying down debt rather than advancing the Catalyst project. The future of the Colorado Eagles' proposed new home remains undecided.
