Johnstown town leaders will consider Monday whether several potential questions should be placed before voters in the November 2026 election, including Town Council term limits and another possible sales tax measure for open space, parks and trails. The discussion is scheduled for the Town Council work session at 6 p.m. Monday, July 13, and no ballot measure has been approved for the November election.
A staff memorandum prepared for the meeting outlines several issues council members have discussed in recent months. With election deadlines approaching, the council will consider whether it wants town staff to continue preparing any of the proposals for a coordinated election with Weld and Larimer counties.
Participating in the November election is estimated to cost Johnstown between $40,000 and $50,000. The town would need to notify both counties by July 24, complete intergovernmental agreements by Aug. 24 and submit ballot questions and ballot issue notices by Sept. 21.
Term Limits Could Go Before Voters
One potential charter amendment would establish term limits for the mayor and Town Council. Johnstown’s Home Rule Charter currently provides four-year terms for the mayor and council members but does not establish limits on the number of terms an elected official may serve.
Before presenting a proposal to voters, council members would need to decide how the limits should operate. The staff memo identifies options including two four-year terms, or eight years, and three four-year terms, or 12 years.
Council would also need to determine whether a council member who reaches the limit could later run for mayor, whether time served through an appointment would count toward the limit and whether a former elected official would need to remain off the council for a specified period before running again.
Any proposed change to the Home Rule Charter would ultimately be presented to Johnstown voters for consideration.
Town Manager Title Change Also Under Consideration
Another possible charter amendment would change the title of Town Manager to either Chief Administrative Officer or Chief Executive Officer. The Town Manager position is currently identified in Johnstown’s Home Rule Charter, and town staff noted that the title is commonly associated with the council-manager form of government used by Johnstown and many other local governments.
According to the staff memorandum, the Town Manager already functions as a chief administrative officer and, in some instances, as a chief executive officer within the current form of government. A title change would require an amendment to Section 8 of the Home Rule Charter, and references to the Town Manager throughout the Johnstown Municipal Code would also need to be updated if voters approved the change.
Parks and Open Space Tax Could Be Reconsidered
Council members will also consider whether to again pursue a sales and use tax for open space, parks and trails. Johnstown voters rejected a proposed 0.5% sales and use tax in April by a margin of 52.5% to 47.5%.
The possibility of asking voters about the tax again was raised during recent FY 2027 budget planning, according to the staff memo. The memorandum does not identify a finalized tax proposal for November, and council would need to determine what request, if any, should be presented to the community.
Town Staff Recommends Waiting Until 2028
Despite the potential ballot questions, town staff is recommending that Johnstown not pursue any measures in the November 2026 election. Staff cited the estimated $40,000 to $50,000 cost of participating in a coordinated election and instead recommended waiting until Johnstown’s April 2028 municipal election.
The staff memorandum states that waiting until 2028 would have minimal impact on the town’s long-term strategies. Monday’s work session is intended for council discussion and direction, and the published agenda does not list formal action on a November ballot measure.
