Broomfield Taxpayer Matters

February 17, 2025

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This newsletter contains the following stories and information:

• Takeaways from Broomfield's 2025 Focus Session
• What's happening at the State Legislature
• Upcoming Council Meetings
• February 18, 2025, Study Session
• February 25, 2025, Regular Meeting
• March 11, 2025, Regular Meeting
• City Council member contact information

Pay Attention to these upcoming items in the Broomfield Council Agendas:

February 18 - Study Session

• 2A. Residential Waste Services Reimbursement of Cancellation Fees
• 2B. Broomfield Minimum/Livable Wage Analysis and Considerations
• This was a topic from last year's focus session brought forward by Mayor Pro-Tem Deven Shaff
• 2C. Best Value Contracting
• This was a topic from last year's focus session brought forward by Councilmember James Marsh-Holschen

February 25 - Regular Meeting

• 6A. Minutes for Approval
• 6B.Construction Agreement for the 2025 ADA Curb Ramp Program Project
• 6C. DOLA Energy and Mineral Impact Grant Funds to go to Ulysses for Harvest Hill Affordable Housing Development
• 6D. 112th and Uptown Widening Construction Agreements
• 6E.Norman Smith Service Center Consulting Amendment and Construction Amendment
• 6F. Trash, Rubbish, and Garbage Hauling License for Northwest Cascade Inc. DBA Honey Bucket
• 6G. BOE for Actions on Abatement Petitions
• 6H. Almost Home Third Amendment for 2025 Services
• 7A. Business Improvement District Formation for Broomfield Town Square - First Reading
• 7B. 2025 Waterline Replacement Construction Contract Award

March 11 - Regular Meeting

• 6B. Police Building Design Amendment
• 7A. First Amendment to the 2025 Budget
• 7B. First Amendment to the BURA 2025 Budget
• 7C. Reappointment of and Amending the Employment Agreement for the Presiding Municipal Judge

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

Local News

Takeaways from 2025 Focus Session

Did you attend the Broomfield Council 2025 Focus Session? If you couldn't make it, we reviewed what was discussed. Let's just say they're selling a story that sounds positive for them, but not directly telling you the citizens and taxpayers what their intentions are.

We've highlighted three topics that they covered in the focus session - Property taxes, Broomfield's debt, and Council's pet projects.

We've informed you on what is happening in these areas over the last several months, so it's worth an update for you - from a taxpayer's point of view. Grab a cup of coffee and take a few minutes to read through what we're seeing.

Broomfield Property Taxes

Broomfield City Staff shared information showing Broomfield's Property Tax Rate compared to other cities. They drew attention to Broomfield's property tax rate as lower in comparison emphasizing that since 2021, "Broomfield has not increased its mill levy comparative to other communities who have increased their mill levies..."

What they left out was that Broomfield's property taxes collected jumped by 25% since 2023, the largest increase in tax receipts in the city's history. City Staff also left out a comparison of property tax revenue to other cities or counties. We did a quick search and found that Lafayette's property tax revenue increased less than Broomfield's over the last 2 years, something that they conveniently left out (see below).

City Staff also failed to mention that Broomfield has the 3rd highest Property Tax Payments as a Percent of Income in Colorado. Finally City Staff failed to mention that several tax districts, including Boulder Valley School District, dropped their mill levy in 2024.

What it means for you? Your property taxes are STILL the highest in the city's history, and your 2025 tax bill is coming due. The City and County of Broomfield is painting a story that it's just not enough for them. Don't be surprised if and when Broomfield Council starts floating the need to increase Broomfield property mill levy rate. And, remember that the Broomfield Council voted unanimously on December 12, 2023 to keep Broomfield's mill levy unchanged, leading to the largest property tax increase in state history, which hit your pocketbook in 2024.

Broomfield's Debt

Broomfield City Staff also covered the city's debt situation during 2025 Focus Session.

They summarized that Broomfield has $252.8 million in principle debt at the end of 2024 (see page 44). Broomfield also has $386.26 million in debt obligations (see page 45) , including $35 million still owed on the demolished 1st Bank Center, $75 million on the Broomfield Community Center and 144th Avenue expansion, and $191 million for the Windy Gap reservoir.

They also communicated that Broomfield will add $254 million in new bonds in 2026 (see page 46 and below) for a new police building, the north water tanks, and the first phase of funding wastewater treatment facility. Note that City Staff pointed out that the water tanks or waste water treatment facility funding are not in the 2025 Budget, where the estimated cost for the both is $595 million - that's more than the revenue expected by Broomfield in 2025.

When this was discussed between City Staff and Broomfield Council, Councilmember Bruce Leslie (Ward 4) admonished the public for your concerns raised about Broomfield's debt, stating that there "is value in adding debt to completely these projects." He voiced frustration at the public (his consituents) "..because over my career, that's how you build things, that's how you fix things. You can't do it by cash, you have to express debt."

What it means for you? Well, the City and County of Broomfield is going to have to find a way to pay for the additional $254 million (or $665 million if you include the entire cost of the waste water treatment facility). On the high end, that is over $1 billion dollars in debt obligations once the projects above are added in.

As the city increase debt, the amount of debt payments including interest will also increase. If the economy take a down turn, if inflation stays high, it will surely affect the bond ratings that the City Staff is quite proud of obtaining through the increase water rates, and the city's "stable but fragile" budget will be under a huge amount of pressure.

If this current Council remains in office, you're only going to see even higher and higher cost of living in Broomfield to pay for these obligations. The Council's approach is finds ways to take more and more from you; cutting their own spending is not even a consideration. Hold onto you wallets. Our water rates have increased 77% in the last three years, and indications from the City is that there is no end in sight to future rate increases.

Council Pet Projects From 2024 Are Back

During the 2025 Focus Session, Broomfield City Staff also touched on the current situation with the budget impact of Broomfield Council priorities.

City Manager Jennifer Hoffman stated that the city's budget was "stable, yet fragile", and that the city has "no more capacity either financially or with staffing time to focus on new programs". City Manager Hoffman also also noted that "there are dollars attached to each policy decision." Your tax dollars are needed to fund their spending, spending which they have increased by 95% since 2017.

So what is the Broomfield Council spending time on their next Study Session on February 18th? On their own pet projects that aren't currently budgeted - namely Minimum Wage, Value-based Procurement, and the Trash Container Fee Reimbursement (a fallout from their single hauler trash program). Staff made a specific point that these items are not currently budget for (see below).

So why is the Broomfield Council intent on spending staff time and their time on these? Because they are focused on their own priorities, not Broomfield's.

Broomfield deserves better.

State News

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

February 18, 2025

Study Session - 6:00 p.m.

Agenda

Concept Review (1)

Study Session (2)

2A. Residential Waste Services Reimbursement of Cancellation Fees

2B. Broomfield Minimum/Livable Wage Analysis and Considerations

2C. Best Value Contracting

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February 25, 2025

Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

Agenda

Meeting Commencement (1)

1A. Pledge of Allegiance

1B. Review and Approval of Agenda

Petitions and Communications (2)

Councilmember Reports (3)

Public Comment (4)

Public is allowed to comment on items other than those listed in the current agenda

Reports (5)

5A. Semi-Annual Performance and Internal Audit Update Semi-Annual Performance and Internal Audit Update

Consent Items (6)

6A. Minutes for Approval

6B.Construction Agreement for the 2025 ADA Curb Ramp Program Project

-- Resolution No. 2025-39

6C. DOLA Energy and Mineral Impact Grant Funds to go to Ulysses for Harvest Hill Affordable Housing Development

6D. 112th and Uptown Widening Construction Agreements

-- Resolution No. 2025-46

-- Resolution No. 2025-47

-- Resolution No. 2025-48

6E.Norman Smith Service Center Consulting Amendment and Construction Amendment

-- Resolution No. 2025-50

-- Resolution No. 2025-18

6F. Trash, Rubbish, and Garbage Hauling License for Northwest Cascade Inc. DBA Honey Bucket

-- Resolution 2025-43

6G. BOE for Actions on Abatement Petitions

-- Resolution No. 2025-38

6H. Almost Home Third Amendment for 2025 Services

-- Resolution No. 2025-51

Action Items (7)

7A. Business Improvement District Formation for Broomfield Town Square - First Reading

7B. 2025 Waterline Replacement Construction Contract Award

-- Resolution No. 2025-05

Mayor and Councilmember Requests for Future Action (8)

Adjournment (9)

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March 11, 2025

Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

Agenda

6B. Police Building Design Amendment

-- Resolution 2025-55

7A. First Amendment to the 2025 Budget

-- Resolution No. 2025-44

7B. First Amendment to the BURA 2025 Budget

-- Resolution No. 2025-52UR

7C. Reappointment of and Amending the Employment Agreement for the Presiding Municipal

-- Proposed Resolution No. 2025-37