Although far from a scientific poll, the ballots turned in tonight told us a surprising story on some issues. The 58% Obama-leaning crowd (McCain 42%), voted down all the taxes but 3A, school technology.

She is too young to vote (just three months old), and ACORN has not approached her even once to register fraudulently, but if The Red Ant could, here's how she would vote on November 4:

Referendum 1A: Dedicated County Sales Tax for Healthy Rivers and Streams Fund, a 0.1% sales tax increase ($1 million annually; $0.10 on $100 purchase) and $12 million debt authority for maintenance and improvement of water issues within the Roaring Fork watershed.
NO. The Red Ant thinks that this is an unnecessary expenditure, especially when it appears that the purported benefits are already being addressed with other existing efforts. (89% of Audience voted NO on 1A.)

Referendum 1B: Dedicated Funding for County Roads, a $5.4 million annual property tax increase for 20 years ($16 for every $100,000 in property value) for upgrades to county roads.
NO. The Red Ant doesn't like property tax hikes, period, at this time. And certainly not for county road improvements. It doesn't even include Hwy 82! Not in this economic environment for sure. (79% of Audience voted NO on 1B.)

Referendum 1C: Authorizes Pitkin County to conduct a multi-tiered and complex land exchange.
YES. It seems like a good idea to wrap up this multi-year, multi-property effort. (86% of Audience voted YES on 1C.)

Referendum 2E: Extension of the Existing 0.45% Sales Tax for Affordable Housing and Day Care through December 2040 (currently scheduled to expire December 2010).
NO. The Red Ant lovesother babies and whole-heartedly supports the Day Care program, but we think that it should NOT be tied to a tax for Affordable Housing. Housing already gets funds from the RETT, and besides, management of housing funds housing is a BIG MESS. Day Care should distance itself. Split the beneficiaries and come back on the May ballot. There's still plenty of time to get this right for Day Care. Just fly solo. (81% of Audience voted NO on 2E.)

Referendum 2F: Extension of the 0.1% Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) for Affordable Housing through December 2040 (currently scheduled to expire December 2024).
NO. The Red Ant sees this 16-year premature extension of the RETT to be a questionable tactic by City Council to pave the way for a HUGE 30-year bond issue for affordable housing on the May 2009 ballot. Given the City's demonstrated mismanagement and decimation of the housing fund, the Burlingame fiasco, the BMC land purchase and $8 million debt still owed to the Wheeler fund - not to mention the economy -- this is not the time toenable the City to prepare toborrow another nickel without significant changes to their entire spending philosophy when it comes to housing. (87% of Audience voted NO on 2F.)

Referendum 2G: Burlingame Affordable Housing Density -- asking whether the density of units should be kept at the current 236 or increased to a maximum of 300 units.
300 Units. A $75 million surprise to the taxpayers after the last Burlingame vote caused a re-evaluation of the project . The Construction Experts Group, the Mayor, APCHA and several members of current City Council support maximizing the density in Phases II/III. This would be the first step toward redeeming the biggest blight in local affordable housing history. (If there were a write-in option, The Red Ant would write "330 units," the maximum currently allowed by law.) (64% of Audience voted for 300 on 2G.)

Referendum 3A: Property Tax Increase ($1.5 million annually for 3 years) for Aspen School District technology and transportation expenses.
NO. While The Red Ant loves kids and supports schools, she doesn't like a property tax increase, especially in this economy. (61% of Audience voted YES on 3A.)

Referendum 3B: Property Tax Increase ($1,147,000 annually) and $12 million debt authority for construction/acquisition of Aspen School District employee housing.
NO. The Red Ant loves teachers and recognizes they need housing, but is not convinced that 3B is the answer. She also feels that the controversy surrounding building on West Ranch outside the UGB should be resolved before we agree to the tax. And again, it'snot a good time for a property tax increase (see Ref 3A above). (54% of Audience voted NO on 3B.)

Referendum 4A: 0.4% Sales Tax increase and $44,555,000 debt authority for Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) for buses, road improvements, bus stations, maintenance facilities and parking areas.
NO. While RFTA is a valuable regional service agency, it needs to focus on the basics and factually demonstrate the benefit of BRT. Besides, this is a big sales tax hike that represents millions in new government spending during a downturn in the economy. (85% of Audience voted NO 4A.)

The BOCC Races

At this early stage in her life, The Red Ant is not going to endorse candidates. That is, other than Shellie Roy. (When one's opponent declines to participate and makes a fuss in the local papers, The Red Ant hates apathy and happily endorses the campaigning candidate willing to show up and communicate with the citizens. So, the Ant would vote for Shellie Roy in BOCC District 3.)