Sugary Drink Tax Still Sweet To Boulder Voters

BOULDER, CO -- It seems that Boulder's sugary drink tax looked even tastier to voters the second time around. With 85 percent of county ballots tallied, City of Boulder measure 2D, which requested permission for the city to retain the full revenues from the tax passed in 2016, was set to pass with 64.41 percent of the vote.

This year's vote signified a big step up in public approval for a measure that only garnered about 54 percent of the vote the first time around. In 2016, many pundits were uncertain whether the measure would pass, but this year 2D took a commanding lead in early vote tallies and never looked back.

Since its inception, the tax revenues have been used to fund the Double Up and WIC programs at the county farmers markets, the I Have a Dream Foundation, the Growe Foundation, and several local food banks. Boulder Farmer's Market director Brian Coppom told KGNU this fall that he had to apply for a second round of funding because the equity programs at his markets were so successful. Supporters say all of these initiatives are important and could benefit from additional funding.

The original tax was created with the goal of equity–to discourage consumption of "unhealthy" beverages, while using the proceeds to fund community initiatives that bring healthy food and fitness opportunities to underserved communities. The tax is charged on retailers at their point of purchase, though many expected the costs would be passed on to consumers.

In 2016, voters first approved the 2 cent per ounce tax on sugary beverages sold within the city limits, but Boulderites bought more sugary drinks than anticipated, and the tax thus raised more than expected–over $5 million compared to the expected $3.8 million. Due to restrictions from the state's Taxpayer Bill of Rights rules, the city was required go back to voters for approval before keeping the additional revenue.

Restaurant and store owners had opposed the measure saying that the tax is an example of government overreach, that its costs are passed onto consumers, and that the fact that the tax generated excess revenue demonstrates that it had failed in one of its original goals of decreasing consumption in the community.

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Photo credit: Kimberly Johnson/Patch