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Broomfield Taxpayer Matters
August 21, 2023
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| “The most basic function of government is to provide a framework of law and order, within which the people can engage in whatever economic and other activities they choose, making such mutual accommodations and agreements among themselves as they see fit.” ~ Thomas Sowell - Basic Economics | |
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The City and County of Broomfield has put out a news alert before the Budget Forums starting in September. Information on those dates are found at the bottom of this section. We are looking through the numbers the City and County of Broomfield released in this announcement, and we will attempt to understand where their numbers are coming from in the budget documents and then we will make a comment.
If you would like more information on the budget here are the dates:
- Economic Vitality and Development: Monday, Sept. 11 from 3-4:30 p.m.
- Fiscal and Economic Outlook: Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 3-4:30 p.m.
- Transportation: Friday, Sept. 15 from 3-4:30 p.m.
- Elections: Monday, Sept. 18 from 1-3 p.m.
In the meantime, please take a moment to review the "Broomfield and Your Money" summary on our website, where we focus on the City and County of Broomfield operational, capital improvement, debt service, and reserves spending between 2017 and 2022.
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Second and Final Readings on Regulations...
The City Council will have second and final reading on a number of regulations in the August 22 regular meeting. Links to the staff memos are given both at the top of the page and also in the City and County Happenings section below.
For agenda item 7f, the staff memo says the are vacating the Public Hearing and Second Reading on Proposed Ordinance No. 2219 - the Mandatory Drought Restrictions. In the Financial Considerations sections, it states, "The proposed amendments will double the penalties imposed under Chapter 13-36-060 for any violation of the drought water use restrictions described in Chapter 13-36, and introduce a new drought surcharge on Broomfield water customers’ monthly water service fees."
For items 11a - 11c, the city council had a first reading of these on July 25, 2023. We covered those items in our July 25, 2023 newsletter. Here is a quick summary of what we said last month.
Greater costs would be anticipated for electric-preferred and electric only requirements, although these initial costs may be offset through rebates and long term cost savings on the operation of these systems.' Rebates from the government, paid through your taxes, with no guarantee that the operation of these devices will pay off in the long run.
Rebates from the government are being paid by our taxes, so we are getting less of the money we initially put into the bucket. So, why don't we just get to keep the money and afford it on our own? We pay taxes so that the government officials can take a part of that tax money and then pay it back out to us. Nobody ever gets richer passing cost through a middleman.
'The typical cost for adding a sprinkler system is currently around $2.70 to $2.90 per square foot of home based on the sprinkler systems being added to homes within the Baseline subdivision. This equates to around $5,800 to $8,700 for homes around
2,000 to 3,000 square feet in floor area.'
We're pretty confident the city council is trying to solve the problem of affordability, but if you know people are losing their homes over these policies wouldn't you reconsider what you are doing or is it just their goal to save everyone no matter the cost? Has their been a cost-benefit analysis for any of these programs?
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State Democrats are Calling for a Action on HOA Foreclosures...
It appears that HOA's have file around 3000 foreclosures since 2018, and Governor Polis and state democrats want to know why. So here is another story about people losing home ownership with years of equity costing taxpayers the homes that they love. Most foreclosures, it appears, were a result of "unpaid HOA debts, some totaling as little as a few thousand dollars before interest, HOA attorneys fees and court costs, according to the report." So a governing agency thinks it is okay to take people's homes for owing only a few thousand dollars and then instead of working with them on a payment plan, they decide to pile lawyers and lawyers fees on top of those small amounts. It's almost as if the individual is not longer important, there is another one that will take it's place.
Governor Polis commented, "Burdensome HOA policies shouldn't be so restrictive that they ... force people from a home they love over untrimmed grass, or drain a family or individual of their financial savings,” Polis said. “These recent accounts are heartbreaking and deeply troubling.”
It's too bad they don't see the other policies they are pushing are hurting hard-working Coloradoans, for example, what if we replace a couple of key words... "Burdensome government property tax policies shouldn't be so restrictive that they ... force people from a home they love over property tax assessment rates they don't control, or drain a family or individual of their financial savings,” .... “These recent accounts are heartbreaking and deeply troubling.”
Why are governing agencies and politicians always willing to point their finger at anyone other then their policies. Want affordability? Quit taxing the taxpayer to death through fees, regulations, and tax policy.
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Colorado's Energy Future..
How much is it going to cost us for a complete renewable energy economy? It appears Governor Polis has signed into law 55 climate bills, a dozen new regulations (think more cost, less affordability), and direct the Public Utilities Commission (another unelected, unaccountable government agency) to shut-down all coal-fired power plants by January 1, 2031.
Independence Institute along with energy researchers at the Center of the American Experiment have put together a detailed report on the cost of this transition. Some of the findings are:
- The "Polis Plan" would cost the state $318.8 billion through 2050
- Average monthly bills would increase to $628 by 2040
- The electric grid would experience capacity shortfalls, think blackouts
What a great plan, hope our winter's won't be like this last one. Brrrrrrr.
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Denver's experience with single-hauler trash...
The Denver City Council decided that the city needs to address composting and recycling by program for all city residents. This is a "pay as you throw" plan has frustrated residents. most residents say they haven't received increases in services for composting, or the smaller, less expensive bins to help reduce the amount of trash. Apparently, the city doesn't live by the rules it imposes on others as Colorado report Brian Maass caught the city throwing away (not recycling) the larger trash cans that had been traded in for the smaller trash cans. They told Brain Maass that the trans bins were "fully recyclable".
The program also wasn't "ready to go" as the solid-waste customers won't get composting bins until 2024. Also the most ardent gardeners were expecting to receive free compost as part of their fee, were surprised to learn that A1 Organics stopped accepting many harder-to-recycle items. Residents have seen limited benefit to a city-run trash-hauling service.
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City and County Happenings
August 22, 2023
Executive Session - 5:15 p.m.
Topic: Request to Schedule Executive Sessions for the Purpose of Obtaining Instruction to Negotiators and Receiving Legal Advice Regarding the Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority
Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.
Agenda
PC - Petitions and Communications (4)
CA - Consent Agenda (7)
BA - Council Business (11)
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11a - Public Hearing - Ordinance No. 2215 Amending Chapters 2-40, Board Of Adjustment, 17-04, Definitions, 17-20, B-1 Limited Business District, 17-22, B-2 General Business District, 17-24, I-1 Limited Industrial District, 17-25, Neighborhood Overlay Area, 17-25.1, Transitional Overlay Area District, 17-26, I-2 General Industrial District, 17-26.05, I-3 General Industrial District, 17-29, Interchange Influence Area, 17-32, Accessory Building And Uses, 17-38, Planned Unit Development, 17-42, Mobile Home Communities And Repealing And Reenacting Chapter 17-70, Landscape Code, Of The Broomfield Municipal Code - Second And Final Reading
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Next Meeting - September 12, 2023
Executive Session - 5:15 p.m.
Topic: City Manager's Annual Performance Review (approved 8/8/23)
Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.
Proposed Agenda
PC - Petitions and Communications (4)
- 4a - Proclamation for Broomfield Community Foundation 30 Years
- 4b - Constitution Week Proclamation 2023
- 4c - Broomfield Days Information and Invitation to City Council
- 4d - Announcement of Proposed 2024 Operating and Capital Budgets Electronically Available for Review and Comment
- 4e - Development Update: Broomfield Town Square
CA - Consent Agenda (7)
- 7a - Approval of Minutes from August 22, 2023 Meeting
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7b - Crack Seal Maintenance Program
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7c - Design-Build Agreement PDRC Pool Hardscape Project
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7d - Construction Agreement for 120th Local Drainage
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7e - Agreement for Water Treatment Plant PH Modification Issues
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7f - Revocable Permit for Sheltair Sign in Public ROW (9586 Metro Airport Ave)
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7g -US287 BRT Study Phase 2 - IGA Boulder County
- 7h - Proposed Resolution No. 2023-98 Agreement with FHWA for SS4A
- 7i - Transit Needs Assesment - RTD IGA
BA - Council Business (11)
- 1st Reading: Ord #2217 Amending Vehicle and Bike Parking Requirements
SR - Special Reports (17)
- Economic & Fiscal Update to Include 2023 and 2024 Budget Highlights
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Contact your City Council or City Staff about one of these stories:
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