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Opponents: Measure To Upgrade National Western Complex Is 'Massive Bite Of The Apple'

DENVER (CBS4) - Ballots have already been mailed to Denver voters for the upcoming election. If approved, one of the measures would provide the money to upgrade the National Western Complex.

Proponents of tax Measure 2C have taken out catchy ads starring Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and a bull. They say the future of the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo is riding on voters approving 2C, a permanent extension of existing taxes on hotels and car rentals.

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"We're going to be able to make sure we sustain the largest livestock show -- it's a Super Bowl -- in the country," said Visit Denver President and CEO Richard Scharf.

Scharf says the money -- an estimated $476 million -- would transform the National Western Complex into what some call the Silicon Valley of Agriculture. It would be a year-round venue that would include a new equestrian center and stockyards pavilion, water resources center and equine sports medicine clinic run by Colorado State University.

"We see this as a Fitzsimons for ag and food for the world," Scharf said.

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It doesn't end there. The money would also fund infrastructure improvements, cleanup of the South Platte River, upgrades to the convention center, and a year round farmers market.

"If anyone actually takes the time to read this entire ballot measure they're going to walk out of ballot box with their head spinning," said Mike Krause with the Independence Institute, a right-leaning think tank.

Krause says the measure tries to do simply too much.

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"It is pretty inoffensive, the idea of a temporary extension of the tourism tax to refresh a great Denver tradition like the stock show," Krause said. "That wasn't good enough. The proponents of this ballot measure want to take a massive bite of the apple and create a permanent new tax."

In all, the 10-year project that also includes rebuilding the Coliseum is expected to cost more than $800 million. The state has agreed to pitch in $250 million of that, but only if 2C passes.

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