Science, cultural district dropped

A grassroots citizens group in July suspended efforts to place a Science and Cultural Facilities District initiative on Larimer County's November ballot.

The group's steering committee recently learned Colorado state laws require all citizen groups to cover legal fees to place nongovernmental initiatives on a ballot. In this case, legal fees would total about $119,000 and must be available by Aug. 3.

The committee said it does not have the financial resources nor the time required to raise the funds, so it has stopped gathering signatures on petitions in Fort Collins and Loveland. The committee is hopeful community collaboration on the initiative will be successful in the future.