City of Lafayette 2025 Ballot Measure Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of a survey of 788 residents of the City of Lafayette, CO. The interviews were conducted from April 8th to 22nd, 2025.

This survey, conducted by Magellan Strategies on behalf of the City of Lafayette, Colorado, assessed resident sentiment toward a potential bond measure to fund three major capital projects: renovation and expansion of the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center, construction of a new Civic Center to replace the aging City Hall, and renovation of the Parks/Public Works Service Center.

The survey opened by gauging general attitudes toward city government. Residents expressed strong overall approval of city services and largely agreed that Lafayette was heading in the right direction, with infrastructure improvements, community events, and quality of life cited as reasons for optimism. Those who felt the city was off track pointed to concerns about overdevelopment, aging infrastructure, rising costs, and vacant commercial spaces.

Before presenting detailed project information, respondents were asked to evaluate two versions of ballot language — one tied to a property tax (mill levy) increase and one to a sales and use tax increase. Both measures described the same $74 million bond with a repayment cap of $120 million. Initial support for both measures was modest but positive, with the sales tax version performing slightly better than the property tax version at the outset.

Respondents were then walked through a series of informational messages about the condition and history of each facility. Learning about the age of the buildings, deferred maintenance costs, safety and ADA deficiencies, and the specific failures at the Recreation Center’s aquatics complex — including a six-month closure and non-functioning amenities — moved residents considerably toward approval. Information about the Service Center’s operational deficiencies also generated strong support, while the case for a new Civic Center, though still net positive, generated comparatively less enthusiasm.

After being exposed to this information, respondents were asked again to evaluate the two ballot measures. Support for both versions increased meaningfully compared to the initial uninformed test, suggesting that education about the projects’ necessity was effective in building the case for voter approval. The sales tax version continued to edge out the property tax version in overall support.

When shown the specific tax impacts, respondents reacted more cautiously. The property tax cost breakdown — framed around annual dollar amounts per home value — held up reasonably well, while the sales tax rate increase generated somewhat less enthusiasm once the specific rate and resulting total tax burden were displayed. Residents were also asked which project combinations they would support, and the Recreation Center renovation emerged as the clear priority, with many preferring it either alone or paired with the Service Center rather than all three projects together.

The survey concluded by exploring how residents would respond if another taxing entity placed a competing measure on the same ballot. A plurality said it would make no difference to their vote, though more said it would make them less likely to support the city’s measure than more likely. Open-ended responses throughout the survey reflected recurring themes: strong support for modernizing the Recreation Center, skepticism about the Civic Center’s necessity or timing, frustration with overall tax burdens, and a desire for the city to explore alternative funding sources or phase the projects rather than bundling all three into a single measure.