Broomfield Taxpayer Matters

August 26, 2024

This newsletter contains the following stories and information:

Attend the next Make Your Voice Heard event - Freedom is Worth Fighting For
Another City Adding Costs to Trash Contracts...The Beat Goes On
More Criticism of Manager Hoffman's Blame Game...
Special Legislative Session on Property Taxes...Who's Winning?
Council Agendas for August 27, and September , 2024
City Council member contact information

Pay Attention to these upcoming items in the Agendas:

August 27th - Regular Meeting
5A. Performance and Internal Audit Semi-Annual Update
5B. Event Center Demolition Approach
7C. Proposed Resolution Withdrawal from the Rocky Flats Stewardship Council
September 10th - Regular Meeting
2B. Police Department Presentation-Statistics
2D. 2024R and 2025 Proposed Budget
6F. Approving City Manager's Employment Agreement
7B. Resolution to Approve Agreement for Contracted Waste Hauling
7C. Contracted Waste Hauling Ordinance - Second Reading

Please let us know if you plan to attend by registering here.

“The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors.” ― Thomas Jefferson

Local News

Our next "Make Your Voice Heard" session will be held on August 31, 2024, and we would love to have you join us!

"Freedom is Worth Fighting For"

Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 1-3PM

Check-in begins at 12:30pm

Please register today to join us at this informative session.*

* Event Location: will be in Broomfield, exact location will be sent after sign up is completed.

Broomfield Taxpayer’s Mission is to raise the awareness of Broomfield taxpayers of by arming them with information regarding the policies of the City and County of Broomfield that impact us civically and financially.

We empower citizens to ask the hard questions, demand truth and accuracy, and request changes in the public policies of our municipal government and elected officials that limit citizens’ economic and personal freedoms.

* Broomfield Taxpayer Matters is a 501(c)4 organization. We reserve the right to accept or reject any reservation request for this event.

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government." - Thomas Jefferson

Another City Adding Costs to Trash Contracts...The Beat Goes On

The "bad" residents of Glenwood Springs will be punished for throwing non-recyclable items in their recycling bins. When will these citizens learn?

You know the old saying, "The beatings will continue until morale improves!" This is the poster child of government overreach. A $24 fine will be added to the Glenwood residents' trash bills every time they don't "comply" with their tyrannical requests.

They are treating their residents like children. Here is a quote from the Glenwood Springs Public Information Officer

"We’ve shared guidance on how to properly recycle, and now with this most recent round of education we’re implementing the fee to disincentivize improper recycling.”

This is a preview of what would happen if the Broomfield City Council implements their Contracted Waste Hauling contract.

It is to stand up and be heard. Tell the City Council to #dumpthetrashplan. Email the City Council today, council e-mails are available at the end of this newsletter.

More criticism of Manager Hoffman's blame game...

In his guest letter to the Broomfield Enterprise. Mark DiCiero, son of former Broomfield City and County Manager George Di Ciero, was outraged that City and Council Manager Hoffman would place the blame for current water and sewer infrastructure woes at the feet of everyone except her or the Broomfield City Council.

In the article, Mr. Di Ceiro says that Manager Hoffman stated that "the proposed increase has become necessary, in part, because Broomfield was built in a way that didn't "have the future in mind."

Mr. DiCiero continued by saying that Manager Hoffman's comments were, "reckless and insulting to the past mayors, council members, managers, department heads and staff members who diligently -- and exhaustively -- planned for Broomfield's future." (emphasis added)

Former Broomfield City and County Manager George Di Ciero has passed, and is no longer alive to defend his record and leadership. Mark Di Ciero rightfully goes on to state that his father George Di Ciero served Broomfield for 43 years and watched as Broomfield emerged as "the shining star of the the Denver metropolitan area." He also tied Manager Hoffman to past leadership and asked why Manager Hoffman didn't ask tough questions while a part of the City and County staff in the many years she worked for the City and County of Broomfield before becoming CIty Manager in 2019.

Mark Di Ciero cautions that a 50% increase in Broomfield's water rate is a dangerous precedent as this will not hold the current leadership accountable for their mismanagement.

You can read Mark Di Ciero's guest letter here.

“Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint." - Alexander Hamilton

Special Legislative Session on Property Taxes...Who's Winning?

As you may have heard, Governor Polis has called a special session, for the second year in a row, to address property tax issues.

This begs the question: Are you winning or is the government?

Always remember, it is money you earned that they forced you to pay by way of higher property taxes. Their rationale is they just cannot make their budget work without more money from the taxpayers. Make no mistake, even with the special session, they will figure out how to keep as much of their ill-gotten gains in higher property taxes as they can.

The legislature does not want too much property tax relief as that would impact their revenues. Never mind that you are struggling, it's for your own good! They want to stop Propositions 50 and 108 and so are proposing Senate Bill 233. It is a complicated bill that you can try to read if you want.

On top of that, the property tax deal for the special session may already be cooked, behind closed doors. Since the Colorado Legislature got rid of their sunshine law last year, we're not able to sese what they are doing or what they have cooked up. Isn't BIG government wonderful? Looking out for you and your best interest.

Ever since Governor Polis and the Democrat dominated legislature swindled the voters into passing Amendment B to repealing the Gallagher Amendment, they've "attempted to address" Colorado's historically high property taxes through Prop HH, last minute bills in the regular legislative sessions, and now a second special session. The truth is that they have no intention to provide any real property tax relief; we should not expect them to do Colorado citizens and taxpayers any favors now.

Ironically, Broomfield Economic Director Jeff Romine indicated the constant mystery surrounding the unpredictable property tax revenues does not help them as a local government plan for the future. Yet, the City and County of Broomfield is also benefiting from a 29% increase in property taxes received in 2024.

Government at all levels is holding on with a death grip to your money, and you continue to pay the price through higher taxes and cost of living.

Upcoming City Council Meetings - Please let us know if you plan to attend by registering here.

August 27, 2024

Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

Agenda

Meeting Commencement (1)

1A. Pledge of Allegiance

1B. Review and Approval of Agenda

Petitions and Communications (2)

2A. Proclamation Declaring September 2024 as Workforce Development Month

2B. Proclamation Declaring August 31, 2024 as International Overdose Awareness Day

Councilmember Reports (3)

Public Comment (4)

Reports (5)

5A. Performance and Internal Audit Semi-Annual Update

5B. Event Center Demolition Approach

Consent Items (6)

6A. Approval of Minutes

August 13, 2024

6B. Board of Equalization Approval of Abatement Petition Administrative Denials

Resolution No. 2024-106-BOE

6C. Board of Equalization Approval of Corrected Mutual Agreement for Abatement

Resolution No. 2024-112-BOE

6D.Proposed Resolution approving an Amended and Restated Intergovernmental Agreement Concerning the Boulder-Broomfield Regional HOME Consortium

Resolution No. 2024-124

6E. Proposed Resolution approving an IGA with RTD for Election Services

Resolution No. 2024-125

Action Items (7)

7A. Rezoning GDC City and County and Police Buildings Ordinance 1st Reading

Ordinance 2249

7B. Proposed Resolution Approval of the Raptor Plan

Resolution 2024-101

7C. Proposed Resolution Withdrawal from the Rocky Flats Stewardship Council

Resolution 2024-119

Mayor and Councilmember Requests for Future Action (8)

Adjournment (9)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

September 10, 2024

Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

Draft Agenda

Meeting Commencement (1)

1A. Pledge of Allegiance

1B. Review and Approval of Agenda

Petitions and Communications (2)

2A. Colin Duffy Day Proclamation

2B. Police Department Presentation-Statistics

2C. Broomfield Days Presentation

2D. 2024R and 2025 Proposed Budget

Councilmember Reports (3)

Public Comment (4)

Reports (5)

Consent Items (6)

6A. Approval of Minutes

August 27, 2024

6B. Agreement for Inmate Food Services

Resolution No. 2024-118

6C. Replacement of Existing Mobile Radios

6D. Revocable Permit with North Metro for Temporary Fire Station

Resolution No. 2024-95

6E. Detention Center Boiler Replacement

Resolution No. 2024-47

6F. Approving City Manager's Employment Agreement

6G. Aggregate Spend Increase for Water Technology and Browns Hill

Resolution 2024-115
Resolution 2024-116

6H. 1257 Clubhouse Drive Revocable Permit for Emergency Exit Path

Resolution 2024-121

6I. Assignment of Broomfield Private Activity Bond (PAB) Allocation

Resolution 2024-128

6J. Request for Executive Session Regarding Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority (JPPHA)

Action Items (7)

7A. Regional Bikeshare Memorandum of Understanding

Resolution 2024-79

7B. Resolution to Approve Agreement for Contracted Waste Hauling

Resolution 2024-120

7C. Contracted Waste Hauling Ordinance - Second Reading

Ordinance 2242

Mayor and Councilmember Requests for Future Action (8)

Adjournment (9)

Contact the City and County of Broomfield

Contact your City Council or City Staff about one of these stories:

Mayor - Guyleen Castriotta

gcastriotta@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-607-1527

Ward 1 -

James Marsh-Holschen

jmarshholschen@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-507-9184

Kenny Nguyen

knguyen@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-438-6300

Ward 2 -

Paloma Delgadillo

pdelgadillo@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-916-6406

Austin Ward

award@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-817-0991

Ward 3 -

Deven Shaff

dshaff@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

970-344-8032

Jean Lim

jlim@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-349-2745

Ward 4 -

Laurie Anderson

landerson@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

920-378-9654

Bruce Leslie

bleslie@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

210-324-5750

Ward 5 -

Todd Cohen

tcohen@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-900-5452

Heidi Henkel

hhenkel@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-349-0978

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