frequently asked questions

GENERAL FAQs

What types of local government clients has Public Alignment worked with?

We've worked with a wide range of local governments and special districts across Colorado, including cities, towns, counties, fire protection districts, school districts, water and sanitation districts, and housing authorities. Our clients have successfully passed sales tax increases, mill levies, bond measures, and other ballot questions in communities ranging from rural mountain towns to suburban cities. We also work with associations, nonprofits, and developers on strategic communication, outreach and engagement, community advocacy, and public affairs.

What makes Public Alignment’s experience with Colorado ballot measures unique?

Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) is one of the most complex and restrictive ballot frameworks in the country. Navigating it successfully requires deep expertise in legal compliance, community education, and communications strategy. Public Alignment was built in this environment, which means we've had to be more precise and more strategic than consultants operating in less regulated states. That experience translates into sharper tools and better outcomes for all our clients – within and outside of Colorado.

What is your ballot measure success rate?

Public Alignment Communication has approximately a 90% success rate across local government and special district ballot measures. Our work has helped clients pass sales tax increases, mill levies, bond measures, and other ballot questions — including cases where support started well below 50% before the public education campaign began.

What does a full-service engagement for a ballot initiative with Public Alignment look like?

We offer end-to-end public education and community engagement campaign support. That includes research and polling, strategy and messaging, stakeholder and coalition management, paid and earned media planning, content creation across platforms, and public-facing tools like property tax calculators that help residents understand what a ballot measure would actually cost them. We tailor every engagement to the client's goals, timeline, and community context — and we stay involved from early planning through the Council, Commission, or Board meeting where ballot language is approved.

Does Public Alignment work with organizations outside of local governments?

Yes. While local governments and special districts are a core part of our practice, we also work with foundations, nonprofits, and developers on community engagement and public affairs campaigns. That work has included helping a Colorado foundation shift the community conversation around housing affordability, supporting a nonprofit in winning school board policy changes, and assisting developers in securing local government approvals for large-scale mixed-use and infrastructure projects. If your work intersects with community, policy, or public perception, we're likely a fit.

Ballot workshop faqs

What is Public Alignment Communication’s Ballot Workshop?

The Ballot Workshop is a customized, expert-led training for local government and special district teams preparing for a ballot measure. Led by Bryan-David Blakely and Sara O'Keefe, the workshop covers every critical phase of the process — from internal planning and community research to messaging strategy, ballot language, and campaign finance compliance. It's available in three formats: on-site, conference, and virtual. Learn more about our workshop page.

Who should attend the Ballot Workshop?

The workshop is designed for the staff and elected leaders who play a direct role in the ballot process, including:

- Board members and elected officials
- City, county, and district managers and administrators
- Finance directors; and budget officers
- Communications and public information officers

Any jurisdiction actively considering a ballot measure — or simply wanting to get better prepared — will benefit.

What topics does the workshop cover?

What topics does the workshop cover?
Workshops are built around the phases that most often determine whether a ballot initiative succeeds or fails.

Topics include:

- Internal alignment and leadership planning
- Timelines and milestone setting
- Community research and polling
- Messaging and communications strategy
- Community and stakeholder engagement
- Ballot language and legal process
- Campaign finance compliance (including FCPA in Colorado)

How far in advance should we schedule a workshop?

The earlier, the better. One of the most common mistakes jurisdictions make is not leaving enough time for internal alignment, community research, and constituent education before the election. We generally recommend beginning the planning process at least 12–18 months before your target ballot date. Reaching out to schedule a workshop as early as possible gives your team the runway to use what you learn.