Opponents of a ballot issue that would let Fort Collins provide high-speed internet services have nearly 20 times the money for their campaign than supporters.

Priorities First Fort Collins, which opposes Question 2B on the Nov. 7 ballot, received $201,000 in donations between Oct. 16 and 22, according to a campaign finance report filed Tuesday with the City Clerk’s Office.

The Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association contributed $125,000 while Citizens for a Sustainable Economy, a nonprofit associated with the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, donated $75,000.

The Colorado Telecommunications Association donated $1,000.

Fort Collins Citizens Broadband Committee, which supports the ballot measure, received $1,330 in contributions during the reporting period. In its initial campaign finance report filed Oct. 16, the committee reported receiving $9,952. The committee has spent $6,228, primarily on printing costs.

FAQ:Fort Collins broadband on the November ballot

On the other side, Priorities First Fort Collins spent $195,238 as of Oct. 22, with $124,445 going to television and radio advertising and $66,262 for ad production and mailers. In its initial finance report, the group reported a single $10,000 donation from Citizens for a Sustainable Economy and no expenditures as of Oct. 17.

Members of the Fort Collins Citizens Broadband Committee were stunned by the amount of money raised by the opposition.

“My adrenaline has been pumping non-stop since I opened their campaign finance report this morning,” Glen Akins stated in an email to the Coloradoan. “The amount of money being spent to fight our grassroots effort is insane.”

The spending is “nothing” when compared to the $150 million residents might be responsible for if the city’s broadband system fails, said Sarah Hunt of Priorities First Fort Collins.

“I’ve been talking with people for months about ensuring everyone understands the blank-check nature of this question and the very real consequences if the city fails to keep up with the private sector,” she stated.

Related:Fort Collins looks to Longmont for broadband lessons

With its spending, the anti-2B group has made “protecting big cable companies in Colorado a priority first," said Colin Garfield, a supporter of the city’s proposal.

Fort Collins is asking voter permission to establish a telecommunications utility with the goal of offering 1 gigabit internet speed for uploads and download. However, passage of the measure would not require the City Council to create the service.

If council moves forward, it could issue up to $150 million in bonds to pay for construction and operation of a network that eventually would cover Fort Collins and its growth management area.

The bonds would be repaid with revenue from broadband customers.

The next round of campaign finance reports is due by noon Nov. 3.

Ballot drop-off locations for the Nov. 7 election are set at various locations around Larimer County. Officials say voters who choose to mail ballots should do so by Oct. 31.

Our view:A cautious yes on Fort Collins broadband