2025 Ballot Guide

Cathy’s 2025 Ballot Guide

Welcome to Cathy’s 2025 Ballot Guide. Below are my recommendations for state and local (Larimer County, Poudre School District, and the City of Fort Collins) issues and candidates on the ballot this November. I have done my best to include resources on both sides of every issue. If you have questions, please feel free to email me at cathy@cathykipp.com or call or text me at 970-219-5267. I’m always happy to share my thoughts. Thank you for engaging in our democratic process!

Statewide Ballot Issues

Here is a link to the state Blue Book in English and Spanish: Ballot Information Booklet (Blue Book) | Colorado General Assembly. This booklet is produced by nonpartisan staff at the Capitol after consultation with all interested parties.

Proposition LL-Retain and Spend State Revenue Exceeding the Estimate for Proposition FF: YES

In 2022 Colorado voters agreed to limit tax deductions on individuals with incomes of $300,000 or more to pay for the Healthy School Meals for All program, which pays for public schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Due to TABOR requirements, we now need voter permission to retain all of the revenue collected for this purpose.
This measure was referred to the ballot by the state legislature.

Support: https://www.yesonllandmm.com/

Information: What’s on Colorado’s 2025 November ballot? Voters asked to weigh-in on school meal funding

Chalkbeat Article on LL

Proposition MM- Increase State Taxes for School Meals and Food Assistance Programs: YES

The Healthy School Meals for All program has been much more successful than originally anticipated, meaning more students in our public schools are taking advantage of the opportunity to receive free school breakfasts and lunches. The need for food assistance has increased significantly in recent years and prior to this program, the stigma of applying for and receiving free meals, was a barrier to program participation.
This measure would increase funding for this program by further limiting state tax deductions for individuals with federal taxable income of $300,000 or more. The success of this program means this additional funding is needed to fully continue this program.

The funding will allow all K-12 public school students to continue to receive free meals at school, promotes the use of nutritious, minimally processed ingredients, and support schools in purchasing fresh ingredients from Colorado farmers and ranchers. It also supports the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help low-income families afford groceries – 50% of those receiving this assistance are children.

This measure was referred to the ballot by the state legislature.

Support: https://www.yesonllandmm.com/

Information: What’s on Colorado’s 2025 November ballot? Voters asked to weigh-in on school meal funding
Chalkbeat Article on MM

Larimer County Ballot Issues

Ballot Issue 1A – Larimer County Transportation Sales Tax Proposal:YES

If passed, this measure would approve a countywide sales and use tax of 0.15% (15 cents per $100) on purchases for the next 15 years. The tax exempts sales of food for home consumption, gasoline, diapers, prescription drugs, and certain other necessities.

This money is an investment in our transportation network which will ultimately save people more than it costs. The funding will be used to:

  • Improve roads, bridges, and intersections to make travel safer for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.
  • Enhance mobility and reliability for all travelers.
  • Fund construction, maintenance, and improvements as outlined in the County’s Transportation Plan, which may be updated with public input.

Information: Colorado elections 2024: What proposed Larimer County tax would fund

Ballot Issue 1B – Larimer County Childcare Sales Tax Proposal:YES

If passed, this measure would approve a countywide sales and use tax of 0.25% (25 cents per $100) on purchases for the next 20 years. The tax exempts sales of food for home consumption, gasoline, diapers, prescription drugs, and certain other necessities.

Childcare has grown increasingly expensive and difficult to find for families of young children in recent years. At the same time, those working as childcare providers receive very little compensation making it difficult to find and retain people willing to do this work. Childcare and preschool options are not only good for the children who participate in them, but they allow parents to participate in the workforce. This improves the economic situation for the child’s family, and it also helps our small businesses and the economic outlook for our community as well.

The money raised would be used to:

  • Address the shortage and high costs of preschool and childcare programs for families in Larimer County.
  • Support efforts such as:
    • Increasing wages for preschool and childcare teachers and staff to attract and retain quality educators.
    • Reducing the cost of preschool and childcare for families.
    • Improving quality and capacity through classroom upgrades, updated learning materials, and creating safe care environments.

This measure will continue an existing sales tax of 0.25% (25 cents on $100) for the purpose of maintaining our city streets and related infrastructure.

Support: www.yeson1b.com

Information: Larimer County voters to decide whether to OK a childcare sales tax

Poudre School Board Elections

As a former school board member, it is important to me that we have a strong Poudre School District Board of Education whose members support our public schools, teachers, and staff. Both the Poudre Education Association and I have endorsed the following candidates for the three seats up for election.

October 6th League of Women Voters Poudre School District Board Candidate Forum

Director District C: Karla Baise KarlaforPSD.com 

  • Karla Baise is a parent of two PSD students in PSD schools. Karla’s strong values will support ALL students in PSD’s public schools.
  • Coloradoan Article on Karla
  • Also running for District C: Sabrina Herrick:SMHforPSD.org

Director District D: Coronda Ziegler Coronda4psd.com

  • Coronda Ziegler is a parent of 3 children in PSD schools. She works in student success at Colorado State University and has a PHD in Education.
  • Article on Coronda
  • Also running for District D: Tom Griggs: TomGriggsforPSD.org

Director District E: Andrew E. Spain AndrewSpain4PSD.com

  • Andrew Spain stepped up to serve on the PSD committee looking into PSD consolidations and closures last year. With the insight he gained from this experience, he was recently appointed to fill a vacancy on the school board in June and is now running to serve a 4 year term.
  • Coloradoan Article on Andrew
  • Andrew Spain is running unopposed

Thompson School District

For my consituents who live is the Thompson School District there are sevral candiates running for the Board and a Ballot Issue to consider this November.

Thompson School Board Elections

Thompson school board elections are always under threat of takeover by people who don’t like public schools and who don’t like the idea that public schools respect and serve ALL students. All of these candidates have been endorsed by the Thompson Education Association.

https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/education/2025/09/14/voters-will-fill-3-seats-on-thompson-school-district-board-of-education-in-november-2025-election/86097406007/

Director District B: Mike Scholl Scholl4Thompson.com

Director District E: Alexandra Lessem Alexandra4Thompson.com

Director District F: Dmitri Atrash VoteDmitri.org

Thompson School District Ballot Issues


Ballot Issue 5A – Thompson School District R2-J Bond Measure: YES

Authorizes up to $99 million in bonds to repair and update schools without increasing current property tax rates.

Funds would go toward:

  • Repairing roofs, HVAC, and other aging systems
  • Improving school safety and security
  • Expanding and modernizing facilities

City of Fort Collins

Ranked Choice Voting for in City Mayor and Council Elections with Three or More Candidates

Starting in 2025, the Mayor and each District Councilmember in Fort Collins will be elected using a “ranked voting method,” or RCV, as mandated by a City Charter change approved by voters in 2022. Below is some information on how RCV works and the list of candidates for each office.

Ranked Voting – City of Fort Collins

Fort Collins Mayor

(Ranked Choice Voting – Rank up to Seven candidates)

WIth ranked choice voting, I will be voting for Tricia Canonico and Emily Francis as my top two choices for Mayor. 
October 1st League of Women Voters Mayoral Candidate Forum

  • Tricia Canonico: TriciaforFoCo.com
    • Tricia is a current member of the Fort Collins City Council where she has supported affordable housing initiatives, job creation, climate action, improved transit options, and better trails. Tricia is committed to making the job of mayor her top priority to improve the lives of all members of our Fort Collins community.
  • Emily Francis: EmilyforFC.com/
    • Emily is a current member of the Fort Collins City Council and plans to continue working on the issues of affordability, housing, climate chance, transportation, and community health.

Additional Candidates for Mayor:

Information: Fort Collins mayor candidates talk at forum focused on clean air

Why Tricia Canonico is running for Fort Collins mayor

Fort Collins City Council

Three of the 6 city council seats are up for election this year. You can find your city council district here: Council District Boundaries – City of Fort Collins
September 29th League of Women Voters City Council Candidate Forum

Fort Collins Councilmember, District 1 – Chris Conway: ChrisConwayFC.com

  • Chris Conway has been very involved in the YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) movement in Fort Collins and plans to work to expand housing options, protect our environment, and access to parks and recreation.
  • Other Candidates Running (you can rank up to three candidates in order of preference):

Fort Collins Councilmember, District 3 – Josh Fudge: FudgeforFortCollins.com

  • Josh Fudge plans to bring his extensive financial experience to the city council to help solve the city’s budget crisis, make housing more affordable, and to help the city to run more efficiently. He wants to make Fort Collins a resilient and welcoming place where all of our residents feel like they belong.
  • Other Candidates Running (you can rank up to three candidates in order of preference):

Fort Collins Councilmember, District 5 – Amy Hoeven: AmyforCouncil.com

  • Amy Hoeven is focused on serving our city’s most vulnerable populations, including immigrants, low-income families, young people, LGBTQ+ communities, and the unhoused. She also wants to work on affordable housing and workforce issues to allow more people to live and work here in Fort Collins.
  • Also running for District 5: Zoelle Lane:ZoelleLane.com

City of Fort Collins Ballot Issues


Ballot Issue 2A – City-Initiated Ballot Issue No. 1 – Yes

If passed, this measure would continue the existing sales and use tax of 0.25% (25¢ on a $100 purchase), without increasing the tax rate. This is a 10-year extension of the existing tax approved in 2015. The funds would continue to be used for capital projects, including planning, design, land acquisition, construction, and up to 5 years of operations & maintenance (O&M) for select projects.

Ballot Question 2B – City-Initiated Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1 – YES

This measure proposes technical updates to Articles II, IX, and X of the Fort Collins City Charter to fix errors and align with Charter amendments passed in November 2024, especially those related to ranked-choice voting and petition processes.

Key changes include:

  1. Councilmember Qualifications Challenge (Article II, Section 2(d)): Clarifying that any registered voter must first notify the City Clerk before going to court to challenge a Councilmember’s qualifications.
  2. Ranked Voting Rules Update (Article IX, Section 2(e)(1)): Updates language on how to determine the number of votes cast in a race to align with the new ranked-choice voting system approved in 2024.
  3. Initiative Petition Timeline (Article X, Section 2(e)(1)): Restores the circulation period for initiative petitions from 63 days back to 77 days, correcting an unintended change.
Ballot Question 2C – City-Initiated Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2 – YES

This measure proposes a general cleanup and modernization of the Fort Collins City Charter to improve clarity, readability, and remove outdated provisions without changing any voter-approved amendments from the November 4, 2025 election.

Key updates include:

  • Improving language clarity by replacing words like “shall” with clearer terms like “will,” “must,” or “may”
  • Using gender-neutral language by removing “he,” “she,” and similar terms
  • Reformatting the Charter by:
    • Breaking long sections into subsections
    • Adding titles to improve readability
  • Removing outdated provisions, including:
    • Old residency rules for department heads from before 1985
    • A mill levy cap that no longer applies (now requires voter approval anyway)
    • Transitional provisions from when the Charter was first adopted
  • Renumbering and correcting cross-references throughout the Charter
Ballot Question 2D – City-Initiated Proposed Charter Amendment No. 3 – YES

This measure proposes updates to Articles II and IV of the Fort Collins City Charter to modernize ordinance adoption and publication requirements and improve clarity.

Key changes include:

  1. Simplifying Ordinance Adoption Process (Article II, Section 6):
    • Reorganizes the section with clearer structure and headings
    • Removes the rule allowing any Councilmember to require an entire ordinance be read aloud during a meeting
  2. Updating Ordinance Publication Rules (Article II, Section 7):
    • Allows adoption of ordinances even if pre-adoption publication is late, as long as all other notice requirements are met
    • Allows late post-adoption publication to be “cured” if done within a reasonable time
    • Delays the ordinance’s effective date until proper publication is completed
    • Extends the deadline to file a referendum protest until after proper publication
  3. Modernizing Legal Notice Requirements (Article IV, Section 7):
    • Replaces newspaper publication with posting notices on the City’s website and at City Hall
  4. Clarifying Deadline Calculations (New Article IV, Section 17):
    • Adds rules for how to calculate deadlines consistently throughout the Charter, based on existing standards in other articles

Ballot Question 2E – City-Initiated Proposed Charter Amendment No. 4 – YES

This measure would amend several sections of the Fort Collins City Charter (Articles II, IV, and XIII) to improve legal clarity and ensure consistency with state and constitutional laws.

Key changes include:

  1. Campaign Contributions (Article II, Section 8):
    • Clarifies which City employees are prohibited from contributing to City Council elections (aligns with state law).
    • Continues bans on contributions from:
      • Political parties
      • Public service corporations
      • Individuals or entities with City contracts
    • Acknowledges that some types of political contributions are protected by the U.S. or Colorado Constitution.
  2. Definitions (Article XIII):
    • Adds definitions to support the revised campaign finance rules in Article II.
  3. Executive Sessions (Article II, Section 11):
    • Adds language to align the City’s rules for City Council executive sessions with state law provisions.
  4. Public Records (Article IV, Section 5):
    • Clarifies that City records must be available to the public in accordance with Colorado open records laws.
Ballot Question 2F – City-Initiated Proposed Charter Amendment No. 5 – YES

This measure would amend the Fort Collins City Charter’s conflicts of interest rules to allow limited exceptions for certain real estate transactions involving the City.

Specifically, it would:

  1. Allow City Councilmembers or the Mayor to sell real property to the City
    • Only if the property is needed for a City project or public use
    • They must still disclose the conflict and not participate in any related decisions
  2. Allow City employees to rent property from the City
    • Only with City Manager approval
    • Must be for the City’s benefit and related to the employee’s job duties

Current law prohibits these transactions entirely.

Ballot Question 2G – City-Initiated Proposed Charter Amendment No. 6 – YES

This measure would amend the Fort Collins City Charter to update the rules for filling vacancies in the offices of Mayor or District Councilmember and clarify how partial terms affect term limits.

Key changes:

1. Term Limits Clarification: If a person serves more than half of a term in office (due to filling a vacancy), it will count as a full term toward the city’s term limits.

2. Updated Vacancy-Filling Process

  • Require a public announcement and application process for filling Council vacancies.
  • Council must appoint a replacement for a District Councilmember within 35 business days.
  • If the Mayor’s office is vacated:
    • The Mayor Pro Tem becomes Acting Mayor
    • Council chooses a new Mayor Pro Tem during that time
    • The district seat of the Acting Mayor must be filled using the standard vacancy process
  • Any vacated office must be included on the next regular municipal election ballot, if deadlines can be met.
  • If no qualified candidate runs in the election for a vacant seat, the newly seated Council will appoint someone to fill it.
Ballot Question 2H – City-Referred Ordinance No. 1 – YES

This measure asks voters whether to approve a City Council-adopted ordinance that outlines a conceptual plan for the future use and management of the 165-acre Hughes Stadium site.

If approved, the ordinance would:

  • Require multi-use development of the site
  • Mandate consultation with Native American tribes and the Indigenous community throughout the process
  • Require site designs to use native and drought-tolerant (xeric) vegetation and naturalistic architecture
  • Establish the following amenities:
    • Up to 60 acres of City natural area
    • Up to 30 acres for environmental education, wildlife conservation, and rehabilitation
    • A trail system connecting to nearby parks and natural areas
    • A City park (up to 35 acres) including a community bike park, gathering area, and potential continuation of existing uses like disc golf and sledding
  • Require the City to manage development over time based on planning, design, and funding availability, following City planning processes and consistent with Public Open Lands zoning

Question 303 and referred measure 2H are in conflict with one another. I prefer 2H over 303 because the city of Fort Collins already owns and manages tens of thousands of acres of natural areas in and around the city of Fort Collins. I believe we need additional multi-use public areas in the city. Here is the most recent city natural areas report to give you an idea of what we already have.

Support: Hughes For Everyone – Yes on 2H

Ballot Issue 302 – Citizen-Initiated Ballot Issue No. 2 – YES

This measure proposes to extend the City’s existing 0.25% sales and use tax for natural areas indefinitely, beyond its current expiration in 2030. No new taxes would be added.

The tax revenue would continue to support:

  • Acquisition, maintenance, and operation of natural areas, open spaces, wildlife habitats, rivers, wetlands, and biodiverse landscapes
  • Public access and enjoyment of these areas, in line with updated citizen-approved guidelines

Key changes starting in 2061:

  • Reduce the minimum portion of revenue required to be spent on land conservation activities from 80% to 70%
  • Increase the maximum allowed for operations and maintenance from 20% to 30%
  • Include ecological restoration work (like restoring native plants and animals) under the definition of land conservation
  • Update language for clarity and alignment with the City’s Natural Areas Program

Article: In 2025 Fort Collins election, a Natural Areas sales tax is on ballot

Ballot Question 303 – Citizen-Initiated Proposed Ordinance No. 1 – NO


An ordinance modifying the citizen-initiated ordinance approved by the  registered electors in April 2021, which required the City of Fort Collins to  rezone, acquire, and use for specified purposes the approximately 165-acre  parcel of real property formerly home to the Hughes Stadium, so as to require that the property be designated and used 100% as a City natural area.

Question 303 and referred measure 2H are in conflict with one another. I prefer 2H over 303 because the city of Fort Collins already owns and manages tens of thousands of acres of natural areas in and around the city of Fort Collins. I believe we need additional multi-use public areas in the city. Here is the the most recent city natural areas report to give you an idea of what we already have.

Support: https://yes4hughesnaturalarea.com/news/setting-the-record-straight-on-natural-areas-funding

For more information on issues and candidates, please check out the Coloradoan 2025 election website: https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/10/03/election-guide-larimer-county-area-candidates-and-issues-on-2025-ballot/86327977007/