Denver wants to ask voters to rename Department of Excise and Licenses this November

Denver administrators want voters to let them change the name of the city s Department of Excise and Licenses by dropping the word excise That s because its work doesn t have anything to do with excise taxes The agency which issues licenses for restaurants rental housing child care facilities and marijuana shops would be renamed the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protections When we say Excise and Licensing it just doesn t resonate with the inhabitants nobody understands what it means noted Molly Duplechian who has been with the department since I have dependably sought a name that is more reflective of what it is that we do The department plans to present the idea to the City Council s Business Arts Workforce Weather and Aviation Services Committee on Wednesday The committee is expected to forward the item to the full council which will then decide whether the question goes before voters on the November ballot Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore is co-sponsoring the bill Duplechian noted her band has spoken with the other council members and hasn t heard any concerns There will also be an opportunity for community comment during the committee meeting The Department of Excise and Licenses protects Denver consumers and ensures businesses are operating ethically in our city Denver Mayor Mike Johnston stated in a announcement Changing the name to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection is a simple yet impactful modification that will help the masses understand and access the critical work coming from this agency The new name won t change any of the department s work or budget Duplechian reported The vote would update all references to the department throughout the city charter Any city charter changes require voter approval by a simple majority If approved the new name would take effect within a meager weeks of Voting Day Nov The licensing department has been in the city s charter since it was created in the early s The agency got its name during the Prohibition era when licensing was largely focused on regulating liquor as a sin tax Duplechian mentioned We have never as a standalone department had any oversight over excise taxes Duplechian stated Related Articles Denver s mayor thinks big and moves fast netting mixed results Two years in should he slow down Denverites weigh in on Mayor Mike Johnston s first two years from cheers to disappointments Denver mayor piloting new tax break for middle-income housing projects Broncos buying spree near prospective Burnham Yard stadium site includes DHA land with housing-related strings attached Denver will now consider merit when deciding who is laid off in upcoming cuts reducing role of seniority Excise taxes which tax specific goods and services are managed by the Department of Finance The city s sales use and lodging taxes are examples The last time the city voted on a department name change was in when Community Works became the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure In the Department of Environmental Medical became the Department of General Vitality and Habitat Both passed with margins of more than percentage points The city is also considering a realizable bond to place on the November ballot A question asking voters whether they want to keep or overturn the city s ban on flavored tobacco will also appear on the ballot after a coalition of Denver vape stores called Citizen Power collected enough signatures for approval Residents can make complaints about consumer protection issues like problems with businesses parking lots or short-term rentals at DenverGov org ConsumerProtection Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter The Spot