The Triple Tax will raise the excise tax rate on ticket sales from 5% to 14% on seven local businesses in Manitou Springs – the Iron Springs Chateau, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Adventures Out West Ziplines, the Penny Arcade, Manitou E-Bike Company, the Cliff Dwellings Museum and Manitou Comedy.

If the Triple Tax passes, it will be the single highest amusement tax in Colorado at 14%!

Discouraging visitors to Manitou Springs will have a long-lasting impact on our local economy. Pikes Peak Region Attractions – an organization that has endorsed a NO vote on 2A - reports that revenue from attractions is down an average of 12% this year. According to a study conducted for the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, August hotel occupancy in Manitou is down 7% from last year. Now is not the time to raise taxes on our local businesses – especially those who depend on visitors. Raising taxes dramatically on these seven businesses will hurt every restaurant, retailer, hotel, and special event host in Manitou Springs. It is inevitable.

It won’t go away. Unlike some temporary sales and excise tax increases referred by other cities to the ballot with an expiration date, the Triple Tax is permanent. Because it is a forever tax, the City doesn’t allow voters to renew the tax in a later year. Not only does 2A nearly triple the amusement tax rate, it also permanently removes any revenue cap limits from the tax.

Supporters of the Triple Tax are concerned about declining marijuana sales. However, with millions in municipal reserves and record high revenue, it is difficult to justify squeezing seven business owners for even more tax revenue.

Just two! The City held just two public meetings where comments from the public were considered on the Triple Tax - one on July 29th and another on August 19th. After the second hearing, the City Council voted unanimously to put the revenue question on the ballot with little discussion and input from the targeted businesses or the Manitou community.

Not one of the owners of the businesses targeted by the Triple Tax were consulted in advance of the City’s plans to raise the amusement tax rate from 5% to 14% on their ticket sales. Instead of speaking with the targeted business owners, the City Council rushed the Triple Tax to the ballot after holding just two public meetings to get citizen comment.

At 9.03%, Manitou residents pay the highest combined sales taxes in El Paso County. The Triple Tax is one of the steepest tax rate increases ever in Colorado. Though many Colorado cities and towns charge visitors an amusement tax, at 14% Manitou Springs will have the highest in the state if ballot issue 2A passes.

By defeating ballot issue 2A, we give the City of Manitou Springs and its local businesses the chance to work together for solutions that work for everyone. Defeating 2A opens the door to a more inclusive process that results in better, more sustainable results.