The jockeying is under way over how nine separate questions involving Mayor John Hickenlooper's bond package will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The law requires the question on the proposed 2.5 mill levy to appear first, but the order of the remaining eight questions will be up to the Denver City Council.

Councilman Doug Linkhart, a member of the council committee that will discuss the order of the ballot questions, said he will advocate for not listing the $70 million for cultural facilities last.

The cultural projects have consistently appeared last in lists that city officials have worked on.

Supporters of those projects fear they could be sitting ducks. Denver's bonding capacity is $480 million, so voters could approve the other measures, which total that amount, without triggering a property tax hike.

"By putting them at $70 million, they already come across as the reason for the tax increase, or the icing on the cake as (Councilman) Chris Nevitt calls it," Linkhart said. "By putting them last, I think we would promote that interpretation, that the tax increase is for the cultural piece."

The proposed mill levy would also increase property taxes.

Linkhart suggested flipping a coin to determine the order.

Councilwoman Carol Boigon, the committee chair, said she and her colleagues will figure out an order that "makes some sense."