The Colorado Supreme Court has decided to hear a case brought by a nonprofit that claims Aspen's 20-cent charge on disposable paper bags should have gone to voters.
The Aspen Times reports the Colorado Union of Taxpayers appealed the case to the state's high court in May. Both a district court and the state appeals court have ruled that the fee is constitutional and did not require a public vote because it's not a tax.
The case stems from a 2011 ordinance passed by the Aspen City Council that requires shoppers to pay 20 cents to use a paper bag supplied by Aspen's two supermarkets. The measure was meant to encourage customers to use reusable bags.
The taxpayers group maintains the bag charge should've gone before a vote because it's similar to a sales tax.
