Although there are no new candidates or town council members up for reelection this fall, Parker citizens will be asked to weigh in on multiple ballot questions in coordination with the Douglas County election. 

On May 1, the town council passed a resolution in order to participate in the Nov. 7 election. Under the Uniform Election Code, the town and county must enter into an intergovernmental agreement, or IGA, to conduct the election. 

The town has appropriated $45,000 for the 2023 special election in the budget.

It is estimated the coordinated election will cost $75,000 due to the length of the town’s ballot questions. 

The cost will increase as the amount of words for each item on the ballot will also increase, said Town Clerk Chris Vanderpool. 

“To be more transparent, we need more text length,” said Vanderpool. “To show that transparency and to educate the public on what they’re voting for.” 

According to Councilmember Joshua Rivero, the town publishes the stricken law as well as the new law, therefore, the length of the questions is so the public can see what they are specifically voting for. 

The upcoming election will include four ballot questions, which will involve charter changes, said Vanderpool. 

The charter, also known as the Home Rule Charter, is the legal framework of how the town’s government operates, essentially working like a constitution. Changes to the charter can only be approved by voters, said Andy Anderson, a spokesperson for the town. 

The four ballot questions are posted on the Town of Parker website. Anderson said the town’s attorneys are currently working to create summaries for the public in the next few weeks.

The Town Council Request Forms for each of the ballot questions can be found on the June 20 Town Council Meeting agenda. 

Rivero said it’s important for the public to understand a $30,000 increase in the town’s ballot questions as it is part of the town’s constitution. 

“I think that $30,000 is a small price to pay to give the public a chance to make a more educated decision in the voting process,” said Rivero.